Camping at Loch Morlich. Aviemore Scotland

I just love the outdoors. Spaces and landscapes that include gardens, lakes, mountains, oceans, long winding roads, turn me on! It’s pure exhilaration and gratuitous peace. So two days into my visit to Stirling, I am in the back of a rented car on a road trip across Scotland.

After three hours of driving through some beautiful Scottish highlands, we finally reach Aviemore, and the Cairngorm National Park beside Loch Morlich.

Loch Morlich is unique because of the sandy beaches hemming the lake. And today, despite the shining sun, there is a nip in the air that does not seem to deter kids, their pets and parents already knee deep in the cold water.

Scotland is brimming with Lochs, the Scottish Gaelic word for a lake or sea inlet. In fact, Scotland has more than 30,000 freshwater lochs, including the famous Loch Ness and Loch Lomond. And each has its own natural beauty and charm about it.

We find a nice quiet spot to set up our tents which gives us a stunning view of the setting sun against the skyline of the Cairngorm Mountain range. While some decide to brave the cold water, I prefer to stay warm and set up camp.

It’s not long before a mother duck and her brood of ducklings come to pay us a visit.

Dinner is cooked over an open fire and unfortunately we forget the butter and the sausages burn the pan far faster than we anticipate! So it is fresh fruit, salvaged sausages, bread and some hot coffee before we settle down to enjoy the end of another day.

Loch Morlich is bordered by an impressive ancient Caledonian pine forest that offers walking, biking and plenty of water sports. The foreground is also a perfect background to some nice photographs!

Cairngorms National Park is the largest in Scotland and the UK and has been declared a protected area to conserve its natural beauty and wildlife. This park has also been voted one of the ‘best places in Scotland for viewing the night sky’

Early next morning the camp sites around the lake are still and there is hardly a ripple on the water. It’s a beautiful morning and a great time for some self-reflection.

A quick clean up and we pack up our tents before heading off for a healthy breakfast!

Our next stop is John O’Groats.