Mistletoe in The Mountains

MISTLETOE IN THE MOUNTAINS.

I SPENT one Christmas in the Highlands of Scotland on a coach tour.  We were based in the Duke of Gordon Hotel, where we sat in front of a roaring log fire and were treated to mince pies and glasses of mulled wine.  Each night we were piped into the Balmoral Restaurant for dinner, which was followed by Highland dancing and Scottish entertainment.

We went to the Highland Wildlife Park to see the reindeer before Santa commandeered them for transport duties.  Later we travelled to the heather centre to see the vast array of heaths, heathers, lings and erica.  The final visit of the day was to Waltzing waters in Newtonmoor, based on an attraction at Disneyworld, Florida.

On Christmas Day we headed north to the Cairngorms and used the Funicular Railway to reach the summit of Cairngorm for the bracing air and extensive views.

We were taken north to Inverness on Boxing Day to visit the Moniack Winery and sample some of the finest wines, liqueurs and preserves that are produced anywhere in Scotland.  Everything is made from locally sourced natural ingredients.  We finished the day in Inverness where many of us went shopping for forgotten pressies.  I went to the local pub for a pint and the craic, which I throughly enjoyed.

This was the final day and we had to leave the magnificent scenery of the Highlands and its hospitable people who made all of us Sassenachs very welcome.