Strathspey Railway and Rothiemurchus: Day 17 – Scotland 2017
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22 April 2017
We awoke to a cold morning. Sleet fell in the night, but thankfully, had stopped by the time it was time to get up and pack it in. We quickly packed and then took refuge in the warmth of the car with the heater blasting. Stop number one for the day was the Strathspey Railway, followed by horseback riding in Rothiemurchus. We couldn’t wait to get the day going!
Strathspey Railway
My grandfather had an affinity for trains. He had an entire building in his backyard where he had built a massive landscape for his trains. Villages and towns were spread throughout his little world, with tiny people occupying the tiny houses and cars. The train ran through the entire creation. I loved that train room as a child, and now, as an adult, I equate trains with him. They are beautiful, happy memories. Any chance to ride a real train is one I’m happy to jump on. Make it a steam train through the highlands of Scotland? Yes, please.
The Strathspey Railway is a steam train that runs between Aviemore and Broomhill. You can choose between the standard service, which comes with tea, or a light lunch option depending on the time you choose, or the evening dinner service. We were on the early train, but were still offered tea and a light snack.
It was bitter cold in our train car when we boarded. The lady who came through to check on us said that the heat would kick on when we got going. It didn’t. We snuggled close and watched the countryside whisk by outside our window. There’s nothing quite like the sound of a steam engine whistle resounding off of the distant mountains on a cold, foggy morning. It might have been cold, but we were in heaven.
The heat did turn on during our return, but it never really warmed up for us. If you’re catching a ride on the Strathspey Railway in the winter or colder months, take a lap blanket!
Rothiemurchus Estate
Four short minutes down the road is the entrance to the sprawling Rothiemurchus Estate. We booked a tent pitch in their campground for the night and intended to have two mostly full days there before moving on. We were just in time for lunch when we arrived. The Druie Cafe is really close to the equestrian center we had booked with, so we chose to eat there. We were lucky to find a seat in the busy cafe. It was full of people who were out enjoying the park.
With full tummies, we made our way toward the equestrian center. As we walked there, a man practically ran up to us and asked if we were scheduled to ride soon. We said yes, and he told us that they were canceling the event for the day due to one of their workers getting hurt. They were taking her to a clinic and wondered if we would be willing to reschedule for tomorrow. We quickly agreed to reschedule and sent our best wishes along to the worker who was hurt. Our afternoon was suddenly free. We decided to take in something we didn’t originally think we would have time for.
Loch an Eilein Castle
The Rothiemurchus Estate is massive. It offers many activities, including archery, fishing, river adventures, quad bike rentals, clay shooting, pony trekking, the treezone, bike hires, ranger-led activities, and more. There are also quite a few walks and hikes on the estate. We were keen to take the path out to see Loch an Eilein Castle. Loch an Eilein is a stunning lake. Calm waters reflect the ancient pines on its mirror-like surface. The forest is serene and you can hear birds calling all around you. On an island in the lake sits Loch an Eilein Castle, a 13th-century castle.
It is a sight straight out of a fairytale. You can see the ruinous castle peeking out from behind the overgrown foliage on the island. Today, it is only reachable by boat, but when it was a functioning castle, there was a causeway that led out to the castle. A sluice was built in the 1700s, causing the water levels to rise. Not only did the rising water cover the causeway, but it also covered quite a bit of the island, reducing its size considerably.
Our walk to the lake was pleasant and the views that met us were well worth the trek. We sat for a while, enjoying the incredible location, before continuing our walk. We got a little lost on the way back but eventually found our way back. The sun was still up, thankfully, and we drove to our campsite for the evening and set up our tent. The day was frigid, and we could see fresh snow on the mountains in the distance. We’ve never been more thankful for indoor heated showers in our life!
Cheers,
Lydia and Billy
