From peaceful forest walks and sandy beaches to white-water tubing, river rafting and a search for Nessie, our family holiday in the Scottish Highlands had a little bit of everything.
Returning to Aviemore, Almost Ten Years Later
There's something about the Scottish Highlands that keeps drawing me back.
The mountains, the lochs, the forests and the sheer beauty of the landscape make it one of my favourite places in Britain.
But our family holiday to Aviemore in August 2018 was particularly special.
It was Marissa's first visit to the Highlands, and Harrison and Ruby had never been either.
For me, though, it was something of a return journey.
Back in October 2008, I'd taken Jack and Abbie to Aviemore when they were much younger. We'd stayed at the Coylumbridge Hotel, and I'd taken them up Cairn Gorm for snowboarding lessons.
I still have some wonderful photographs from that trip, including the two of them wrapped up in their winter clothing, ready for their adventure on the mountain.
Almost ten years later, I was returning to the very same hotel, but this time with Marissa, Harrison and Ruby.
And what a difference a season makes.
Instead of snowboarding, we'd be exploring beautiful lochs, wandering through ancient pine forests, rafting down Highland rivers and visiting one of Scotland's most famous castles.
I'd also managed to fit in a solo hike up Ben Macdui, Scotland's second-highest mountain.
Of course, not everyone in the family shares quite the same enthusiasm for hiking as I do.
Marissa, in particular, is generally happier enjoying beautiful scenery than spending hours climbing mountains!
So this holiday was about finding the right balance.
A little walking, a little adventure, some sightseeing and plenty of time simply enjoying being together.
And looking back, it turned out to be one of those family holidays that stays with you long after you've returned home.
Loch an Eilein: A Little Romance, a Little Persuasion and a Family Walk
Now, I should probably confess something.
Marissa doesn't quite share my enthusiasm for hiking.
Don't get me wrong, she enjoys beautiful scenery and being outdoors, but suggesting we spend part of our family holiday walking around a loch doesn't always receive the same level of excitement from her as it does from me!
So a little gentle persuasion was required.
My argument was simple. Loch an Eilein, tucked away in the Rothiemurchus Forest near Aviemore, is often described as one of Scotland's most romantic places.
What could possibly be more appealing?
Admittedly, we did have Harrison and Ruby with us, so perhaps it wasn't going to be quite the romantic stroll I'd suggested!
But it turned out to be one of my favourite memories of the holiday.
The relatively gentle circular walk took us through beautiful pine woodland, with the loch appearing between the trees and the surrounding hills providing a wonderful backdrop.
The colours were fantastic, particularly the purple heather adding splashes of colour to the landscape.
And then, of course, there's the castle.
The ruins of Loch an Eilein Castle sit on a small island in the water, creating one of those picture-postcard Scottish scenes that almost doesn't look real.
We took our time, enjoying the surroundings rather than worrying about how far we'd walked or how quickly we were moving.
Harrison and Ruby had fun exploring and playing on the boulders beside the loch, and it became one of those walks where the little moments were just as enjoyable as the scenery.
No rushing. No mountain summits. Just the four of us enjoying a beautiful place together.
And somewhere along the way, we captured a family photograph that remains one of my absolute favourites.
For me, that sums up what makes Loch an Eilein so special.
You don't need to be an experienced hiker to appreciate it. It's a place where a simple family walk can become a lasting memory.
And I'd like to think even Marissa agreed it was worth the persuasion!
Loch Morlich: From Mountain Summit to Sandy Beach
Earlier that morning, on 9 August 2018, I'd been battling fierce winds on the exposed plateau of Ben Macdui, Britain's second-highest mountain.
After completing my solo hike, the afternoon couldn't have been more different.
We headed to Loch Morlich, a beautiful freshwater loch surrounded by pine forests and the mountains of the Cairngorms.
With its sandy beach and spectacular setting, it's one of those places that makes you forget you're in the Scottish Highlands rather than somewhere much further south.
There was no particular plan for the afternoon.
No challenge to complete, no summit to reach and certainly no need to watch the clock.
We simply wandered along the beach, enjoyed being together and watched the world go by.
After the physical demands of the morning, it was exactly what I needed.
And looking back, that contrast is one of the things I remember most fondly about our holiday.
One moment I was challenging myself high in the mountains, and a few hours later I was enjoying the simple pleasure of spending time with my family beside a beautiful Highland loch.
Sometimes, those quieter moments are every bit as memorable as reaching a mountain summit.
If you'd like to read about my solo adventure on Scotland's second-highest mountain, take a look at my Ben Macdui hiking story.
Making a Splash: River Adventures in the Cairngorms
Of course, not every day of our Scottish Highlands holiday involved peaceful walks and relaxing beside beautiful lochs.
With Harrison and Ruby to entertain, we also wanted to enjoy some of the more adventurous activities available around Aviemore.
And the Cairngorms certainly didn't disappoint.
River Feshie: White-Water Tubing and Rock Jumping
If our walks around the lochs were the peaceful side of our Highland holiday, tubing on the River Feshie was quite the opposite!
Harrison, Ruby and I had signed up for a white-water tubing adventure, and it turned out to be one of the most exhilarating experiences of the trip.
Forget gently floating downstream, admiring the scenery.
This was proper white-water tubing, bouncing through rapids, getting thoroughly splashed and having an absolute blast.
Armed with our inflatable tubes, we made our way down sections of the river, enjoying the excitement of the rushing water and the beautiful Highland surroundings.
And the fun wasn't limited to the tubes.
At certain points along the river, we had the opportunity to climb out and jump from rocks into the water below.
It was brilliant fun, and exactly the sort of adventure that Harrison and Ruby loved.
Meanwhile, Marissa had opted for a rather different experience.
Back at the Coylumbridge Hotel, she was perfectly happy making the most of the spa facilities.
While we were bouncing through rapids and jumping into the River Feshie, she was enjoying a considerably more relaxing afternoon.
I'm not entirely sure which of us made the better choice!
But for the three of us, it was an unforgettable experience and another reminder that the Scottish Highlands offer far more than mountain walks and spectacular scenery.
River Spey: A Family Rafting Adventure
Our second river adventure was a rather different experience.
This time, we were heading out on the River Spey for a family rafting trip, and Marissa was joining Harrison, Ruby and me.
Unlike the exhilarating white-water tubing on the River Feshie, rafting on the Spey was a much calmer affair.
We travelled downstream together, taking in the beautiful Highland scenery from a completely different perspective.
It was a lovely way to spend time as a family, enjoying the river and the surrounding countryside without quite the same adrenaline rush as our earlier adventure.
Although that didn't mean we stayed dry!
At various points, we'd stop the raft and have the opportunity to run straight off the edge and jump into the river.
Naturally, that added a little excitement to proceedings!
It was a wonderful combination of gentle adventure, beautiful scenery and family fun.
And I think that's what made both river experiences so memorable.
They were completely different, but each gave us another way to enjoy the Scottish Highlands together.
Loch Ness: Castles, Legends and a Family Adventure
No family holiday in the Scottish Highlands would feel quite complete without a visit to one of Scotland's most famous landmarks.
Loch Ness.
Famous around the world for its legendary monster, Loch Ness had always been somewhere I wanted to explore, and it seemed the perfect opportunity while we were staying in the Highlands.
Our visit was more about sightseeing than hiking, which I'm sure came as something of a relief to Marissa!
We took a boat trip out onto the loch, giving us a wonderful opportunity to appreciate its sheer size and the beautiful Highland scenery surrounding it.
There's something quite special about being out on the water, looking towards the hills and wooded shores, and imagining the countless stories and legends associated with this extraordinary place.
And, naturally, there was always the possibility of spotting Nessie.
Although I can't claim we had any luck on that front!
We also visited Urquhart Castle, whose dramatic ruins overlook the waters of Loch Ness.
It's a spectacular setting, and wandering around the castle gave us a chance to enjoy a little Scottish history alongside the scenery.
The combination of the boat trip, the castle and the wonderful surroundings made it a thoroughly enjoyable family day out.
Everyone loved it.
And looking back, that's what made our Scottish Highlands holiday so memorable.
We'd experienced everything from mountain summits and peaceful forest walks to white-water adventures, sandy beaches and historic castles.
There really was something for everyone.
Why Aviemore Makes Such a Wonderful Family Base
Having now stayed in Aviemore with two different groups of my children, almost ten years apart, I've seen just how much this part of Scotland has to offer families.
In October 2008, it was all about winter scenery and snowboarding on Cairn Gorm.
In August 2018, it was about forest walks, beautiful lochs, river adventures and discovering the Highlands in the summer sunshine.
Staying at the Coylumbridge Hotel gave us a convenient base for exploring the Cairngorms, while our trip to Loch Ness added another memorable day out.
What I particularly love about this area is that you don't have to be a serious hiker to appreciate it.
Yes, there are magnificent mountains waiting to be climbed, and for someone like me, that's always going to be part of the attraction.
But there are also gentle walks, sandy beaches, family-friendly adventures and some of the most beautiful scenery you'll find anywhere in Britain.
You can make your holiday as adventurous or as relaxing as you like.
And if you're travelling with a family whose enthusiasm for hiking varies somewhat, as mine certainly does, that's a pretty important consideration!
If you're looking for more inspiration for getting outdoors with the family, take a look at my Ultimate Guide to Family Walks in the UK, where I share more ideas for enjoying walks and adventures together.
The Memories That Stay With You
When I think back to our August 2018 holiday, it's not just the places we visited that I remember.
It's the little moments.
Persuading Marissa that a walk around Loch an Eilein was a romantic idea.
Watching Harrison and Ruby enjoying themselves beside the loch.
Relaxing on the beach at Loch Morlich after a demanding morning on Ben Macdui.
The sheer exhilaration of white-water tubing and jumping off rocks into the River Feshie.
Running off the raft into the River Spey.
And the four of us enjoying a boat trip on Loch Ness, wondering whether its most famous resident might make an appearance.
Almost ten years earlier, I'd been making memories in Aviemore with Jack and Abbie.
Now I was making a whole new collection with Marissa, Harrison and Ruby.
Different seasons. Different adventures. The same spectacular Highlands.
And that's what makes this part of Scotland so special to me.
It's somewhere I can return to again and again, knowing that every visit will offer something different.
Happy Hiking!