Loch Muick Circuit

Actual date of this event: 22 Sep

First and foremost: Happy Birthday to my nephew, Cooper! His birthday was yesterday, but his reptile birthday party was on this day. Hope your 5th birthday party was super cool!

On our third day in Aberdeen, we got ourselves into something that we will never regret: hiking. Hiking is probably the best thing about Scotland. The views of the countryside, lochs, waterfalls and hills are amazing. The experience will literally take your breath away! (I think I have said that before?)

Since our arrival we had heard of a specific amazing hike called Loch Muick Circuit. It is located almost an hour and a half away from us in the middle of the Cairngorm Mountains. This hike circles completely around Loch Muick (pronounced 'Mick') and passes a house that Queen Victoria built. Sounds amazing, right? Well it is a 7.75 mile walk, but it is well worth it!

With such beautiful weather and our friends had a visitor in town, we all decided it was the perfect outing for the day! Luke had the camera the whole time, and he took 200 pictures! Maybe, he was fishing for desktop background photos, but it isn't difficult to take that many pictures since your views change with every step. Somehow, I was able to pick out some favorites.

On the way back from the hike, we passed by another hiking trail called Burn O'Vat. Jill and Ryan (our drivers for the day) told us we had to stop to see this neat area along this hike. So, what's another few feet to walk after our circuit? Really not a big deal!

We were able to get a view of Loch Kinord.

We arrived at the Vat and climbed in to take some pictures.

Click here to see wiki's site for the Vat.

RANDOM FACT:
Loch Muick is a 2 mile long, freshwater lake.

-Debbie-

Tea & Gardens

Actual date of this event: 17 & 18 Sep

On Monday, I had blogged about us going to High Tea for Laine's birthday. High Tea consisted of a sandwich with a variety of treats. We each got tea, but there was also the option of coffee and champagne. It was a very girly thing to do! We did not dress up in what I imagined we should wear, but we easily could have. Except for that fact that this is Scotland and it is cold here. No cute sundresses for these ladies!

Egg Mayo sandwich

On Tuesday, it was the first AWA Discover Aberdeen event of the "year". DA is an activity group of the association that meets about twice a month to visit a hidden gem of Aberdeenshire. We visited Pitmedden Gardens located in Pitmedden which was about 45 minutes away from the city of Aberdeen. I decided to drive our group since they have so kindly driven me around everywhere so far. I was proud to reciprocate!

AWA Discover Aberdeen group

borders of the gardens

Can you see the 1675 carved into the gardens?

Garden Sundial
1.) Stand on the Month it is
2.) And your shadow tells you the time.
It worked! Sorta.

Wall of Pears

Wall of Apples

We went crazy taking pictures of flowers in the area

 

Scotland's flower: Thistle

   

Blooming artichoke? We couldn't decide.

Photo challenge of the day: Take a picture of a flower with a bee on it.

It was raining pretty good for this pic.

Super cool area of the gardens. Protected us from rain.

Farming Museum

The next Discover Aberdeen will be on October 2nd which will be a Castlegate Tour of Aberdeen. Julie will be in town and I am hoping we will both be able to attend.

RANDOM FACT:
The house and garden of Pitmedden were established is 1675, but the original garden was destroyed by a fire in 1818.

-Debbie-