A scottish affair

Beauly is a bustling village that should be explored by foot. In the 13th century, Cistercian monks built a priory here, deciding that Beauly was the ideal spot for their secluded meditation and worship. The area’s beauty has even gotten it some royal compliments. In 1564, Mary, Queen of Scots, stopped at Beauly Priory on her way to Easter Ross. Touched by the beauty of the priory, she is reputed to have said in French, “Oui, c’est un beau lieu” (Yes, it is a beautiful place), a pun on the name of the priory.

Sunshine can never be guaranteed in the Highlands, but visitors over the years have become used to donning wellies and having a great day out, whatever weather comes their way. Luckily for us, there was plenty of sunshine at the nature reserve which is an ancient pine forest overlooking Loch Maree. It is also home to a multitude of spectacular wildlife, including red deer and the golden eagle.

Any holidaymaker with an eye for nature would be overjoyed with the abundance of flora and fauna that the Highlands offer. Spring is the best time to see the many species of wild flowers which bloom in the glens and leafy avenues while among the feathered residents you may find song thrushes, dippers, buzzards, herons and, with luck, a Peregrine falcon or two. Early evenings and early mornings are also the best times to see families of shy badgers or wily country foxes. Don gave us an excellent book on the birds of the Highlands, which we thumbed through trying to identify the birds we saw perched on trees around us.

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