Highland hijinx

It’s half term break again and this time we took the week off to visit the Scottish highlands with friends. 

We spent the first few days up in Aviemore, close to Inverness and Loch Ness. It was cold, Scotland got their first snow of the year but the scenery more than made up for it. 

We visited a free ranging reindeer herd, took the old steam train, met Murdo the heilan coo (highland cow), and explored the folk museum... and so much more. 

Then it was off to Edinburgh to see the Samhuinn Fire Festival. Samhuinn is the pagan celebration of winter taking over from summer, and the origins of Halloween. It enacts the battle between the summer king and the winter king. It was a very special way to celebrate Oct 31. 

Then a few more days of exploring Edinburgh - climbing Arthur’s Seat (the highest point in Edinburgh), dancing at a ceilidh, and exploring the mile. 

All in all, it was a bonnie time.