The Best Things in Life Aren't Things

They are experiences and there are no shortages of experiences to be had in the Scottish Highlands

Have you heard that phrase? We recently saw this on Ben Fogle's Instragram, captioning a picture of him camping out one what looked like a glacier! But it immediately struck us as true. The best things in life aren't things, they are experiences. Experiences provide beautiful opportunities to create memories and connect with people and nature. Experiences make life worth living. There is no shortage of experiences to be had in the Scottish Highlands, we'd like to share our favourite experiences you can have right from your doorstep at one of our cottages on Rothiemurchus Estate.

Walk Loch an Eilein

Loch an Eilein (pronounced "lochan-yellen") is Gaelic for Loch of the Island. It’s named for its little island with a ruined castle, originally dating from the early 14th century. The cottage looks straight out to the castle from its secluded position on the western shore. The castle itself is steeped in history, originally built as a sanctuary from clan war bands, who would frequent the ‘Thieves’ Road’ on the loch’s eastern shore to reach and plunder the herds of cattle in Strathspey. This stunning loch has a wide foot pathway around it and takes less than 2 hours. It explores one of the more enchanting parts of the ancient Rothiemurchus pine forest. The experience is completely immersive, as you'll not hear any road traffic, just the beautiful sounds of nature. A walk to truly remember as you'll no doubt hear and see the variety of birds, red squirrels and if you're staying at Loch an Eilein Cottage you might even see a badger or pine martin at night.

Explore unknown part of Rothiemurchus

If you are looking for a truly unique experience that takes you off the beaten tracks, then a Land Rover tour is for you. You'll be picked up from your doorstep by one of very entertaining rangers and whisked away for an adventure around private roads on the Rothiemurchus Estate. Learn about the history, the peoples and the land as you visit the farm, the loch and epic views from Tullochgrue. To make it a truly unforgettable experience, you might even get to feed the red deer by hand.

Go quad biking

An experience to remember! Explore some off-road trails around the glorious ancient pine woodland and moorland, whilst enjoying the epic backdrop of the mountains beyond. Drive by the herd of lovely highland cows and you might even see the deer and other wildlife on the estate. Simply put, this is fun. An experience to get the adrenaline going and put a permanent smile on your face.

Do nothing

Yes, that's right! Plan to do nothing. You might gain an experience that changes you. All of our cottages have outdoor spaces that offer beautiful places to sit. Achnahatnich House even has a little hill-top sitting area that looks out to Cairngorm Mountain. Grab a cup tea and chair and allow yourself to sit and 'do' nothing. Observe the pace of nature, it's slow. Find yourself truly present in the moment and allow everything to simply be as it is. Take this experience into your daily life and find yourself more connected, more present than you were before.

Challenge yourself with hill walk

The rewards of a hill walk are beyond measure and offer unparallel experiences. If you're new to hill walking, you'll find Meall a' Bhuachaille is a great choice for a first hillwalk in the Cairngorms. A short drive from our cottages. It has well traversed paths to the summit and offers stunning views. Enjoy the variety of tress, lochs and forests from the ridge on top. Only 8.5km, this walk gives you challenge and rewards.