Up and down Cairn Gorm

Today it dawned beautiful blue sky, it confirmed our thoughts that today would be mountain railway day.  We were wise for this holiday and looked through Tesco Clubcard boost a week beforehand.  We got tickets for the Cairngorm Mountain Railway and Landmark Adventure Park.  This meant that today's day out cost us the pricey sum of £1 - not bad.

We drove the long but scenic way to the mountain - hoping to come across some Highland Coos, but to no avail - where are they all?  We've only seen two fields of them since arriving here.  Angus and Agnes who have come with us are most disappointed!

On the train

We arrived at the foot of Cairn Gorm (the mountain the railway is on is the actual Cairn Gorm (Blue Mountain) after which the mountain range and National Park is named.  Confusingly though the mountains on the whole are known as the red mountains after the red base rock.)  Today it was clear, but cold, it was 5 degrees when we arrived, so out came the hats, gloves and scarves.  Luckily Tom was given a very smart, very thick duffle coat in Dollar (one of Lewis' old ones) this kept him nice and cosy all day.

Driving the train

We got tickets for the funicular railway (Tom's first) and waited patiently 20 minutes to get the best seats on the service.  Matt took this rather good film of the trip.  It was only 8 minutes long, but it was a good trip - Tom was certainly all smiles.  We got to the top where train passengers are not allowed access to the mountain (you have to hike to be allowed on it - due to environmental management measures).  However, there was a good exhibition with a mini funicular railway for children to play on complete with buttons which light up and make noises which Tom of course loved, plenty of interactive displays and a film show.  We then went to the restaurant for tea and a bun before going on the terrace to see the views down.

Trip up the mountain: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uqj4VKwIFWM

View from above

Highest telephone box in the UK

Funicular Train

A quick look around the shop and then we got the train back down.  We had a look around the mountain garden and at the camera obscura before heading to the cafe for lunch.  A bowl of thick, home- made and warming soup for Matt and I and a panini for Tom set us up for another trip on the railway (the tickets we had bought for £1 were all day passes).  It was quite busy this time, but the sun had broken through the haze so the colours were better - therefore some time was taken re-taking all the pics from the morning.

Tom at the top

We then came down - all happy after a good day out.  Tom really enjoyed his funicular experience.  We then headed into Aveimore for a look around and a shop.  We found a rather good butchers where we purchased a huge homemade steak pie and some other bits and pieces for breakfasts and dinners.  We then had a look up and down the main street.  To be honest I wasn't that impressed with Aviemore.  It didn't really have the feel of a nice charming town, more a functional place to hold all the visitors for the area.  It had all the usual outdoor shops - I went looking for a new waterproof jacket (my current one is no longer waterproof) with no luck unless I wanted to pay over £200!  However, one shop stocked lots of Mammut goods including Mammut mammoths.  Guess who fell in love with a big one... not me...not the boy - but my big softie of a husband.  I could see him having problems, he had fallen in love and before we knew it, he left the shop with a big black Mammoth under his arm!

Cute flower display at Aviemore Station

Oh well, I wasn't going to say no was I?!  Another one to add to the herd, just the 10 now!  We then went to a rather crowded Tesco to stock up on bits and bobs and then headed to Grantown on Spey for dinner out.  Now, if I had to live in this area I would definately choose Grantown over Aviemore.  A lovely place, full of grand residences, a great main street with lots of interesting looking shops and 2 Indian restaurants.  The lady in the tourist office in Aviemore had recommended one to us, so we went there, Sylhet Brasserie.  We are glad she did as it was excellent.  Very friendly service and interesting menu - we had 2 curries we hadn't heard of before.

Tom was in good form today - a happy boy, we didn't have any arguments over the toilet as we have had the last couple of days which was a relief.  He even put pen to paper in the restaurant and wrote his first poem:

1. I love Tom
2. I love you
3. I love pee
4. I love door

I think he belongs to the surrealist movement...

So a grand day out.  A little on the cold side but no sight of rain at all.