A honeymoon and a big win at the Highland Games.
Our story
Back some years, there was a day when our dog Molly won big at the Blairgowrie and Rattray Highland Games.
That was before we lived here. We were on holiday in Scotland and had travelled a fair way to get to the Games. It was a rainy day (it’s worth noting that rainy days never spoil a holiday in Scotland), we’d bought Molly a tartan neckerchief from a stall, then randomly put her name in a hat for the dog show.
It wasn’t an overly serious competition. But, to our surprise, she went on to win ‘Best Rescue’, then even more suprisingly ‘Best in Show’.
When we were creeping off with Molly’s three rosettes and two cups, a smiley photographer approached and asked if she could take our photo for the local paper.
“Of course,” we said. She then asked where we were from.
“We live in London at the moment,” we said. “Oh, wow, you’ve come a long way,” she replied. “Well, OK, that’s lovely. So, maybe we won’t take your photo for the local newspaper. Still, congratulations to Molly and enjoy the rest of your stay.”
We understood. But, fast forward a few years, we decided to move to Scotland and came across Heathpark House - around the corner.
Why we love Scotland, and know you will too
We holidayed on an island off the west coast for our honeymoon, a good time before Molly’s big win. It was wild and romantic, you had to walk through shoulder-high ferns and then 30 minutes of forest to get to other human beings, we heated our bath water with the cottage stove, and stags and a pine marten visited our garden to eat grass and jam sandwiches. (The cottage guest book said the pine marten liked jam sandwiches, though we don’t suppose it would be recommended by experts.)
Later, when the holiday was over, Meg cried a bit, and since then all of our trips were to different parts of Scotland - especially as Molly could come.
Scotland is beautiful, vast and wild. Its hills, valleys, trees, beaches, nature reserves, lochs and wildlife are energising, connecting you back to the real world. Then there are the castles, and the fact we happen to be in a region that’s known as ‘Big Tree Country’, on the edge of the largest national park in Britain.
All we’ll say is that you should come. We’re serious about the weather too. Scotland is a treat - rain or shine.
