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We left the BnB soon after 9:30AM. But not before marvelling at an awesome display of crepuscular rays as the sun rose above Cairngorm.
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| Spectacular crepuscular rays shining through broken cloud in front of Cairngorm. They were changing rapidly in the strong wind. | ||
After looking in a few local shops we arrived on foot at the Strathspey Steam Train platform about 9:55. We bought tickets and waited as a couple of bus loads of pensioners filled the station along with some train spotters. At 10:15 the 10:30 train arrived. We took it to Broomhill and back. Outbound the weather was still nice and sunny as we went out through open woodland. We passed what looked like a train graveyard at Boat of Garten. The landscape was more open further Northeast with grass fields, the River Spey, sheep and cattle dominating the view. I also spotted a Deer too. At Broomhill we stopped beyond the station while they decoupled the steam engine to change ends. Then it pulled us back into the station where we had time to walk around. Hoards of trainspotters were busy photographing the steam engine. They were letting people (including me) climb on board the locomotive itself. That furnace was hot! Then all aboard for the return trip. The rear carriage outbound was now the front carriage and we could now hear the chuff chuff of the locomotive. By Boat of Garten the rain caught up with us and got going as forecast. I still managed to take some videos, shielding the camera and iPhone from the rain. Soon enough we pulled up back in Aviemore to end the journey.
A clip taken as the steam train left Boat of Garten for Aviemore is uploaded to You Tube. Click here to view the video.
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| The steam train arriving at Aviemore station. | All aboard! | Glimpsing the locomotive controls as it zipps past to the other end of the train. | Renée boarding the steam train. | ||
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| Renée and Mike on the steam train waiting for it to go. | We even have old fashioned tickets. | An old cart on the platform and a station sign as we set off. | The Mountain Café across the road. | ||
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| Looking back at Craigellachie as we leave Aviemore behind. | Some old carriages on the side of the track. | Renée enjoying the ride. | Tickets please! | The glorious Speyside countryside. | An old carriage in what looks like a train graveyard near Boat of Garten station. |
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| Boat of Garten Station. Across the way were curious houses with rooves down to the ground. Plus a nice station name display and building. | Looking across the houses as we depart Boat of Garten. | |||
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| A pond just outside Boat of Garten. | Pretty buildings just beyond the pond in Milton. | A logging truck travelling Northeastwards along the A95. | Horses and cows as we approach Broomhill. I also got a brief glimpse of a red deer too. | |
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| Looking at the cows as the locomotive unhitches just beyond Broomhill station to go to the other end of the train. | Connecting the locomotive back to the train and pulling into Broomhill station. | ||||
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| Parked at Broomhill station pointed back towards Aviemore. | Looking at the locomotive as we wait to return to Aviemore. | |||
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| Then I was allowed to step inside the locomotive. That is a firey boiler! Looking also at the dials and levers, and the coal chute. | Full steam ahead! Departing Broomhill. | So far we've kept ahead of the incoming bad weather. Clearly it is catching us up though. | The River Spey. | ||
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| Chuff! Chuff! Chuff! Chuff! A great view from the front carriage. | More views of the River Spey as we chuff our way past. | Looking around at the train yard at Boat of Garten. | |||
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| Leaving Boat of Garten behind as the rain starts to bucket down. | Watching the steam plumes from the locomotive billow over the train. | Leaving the train behind as we depart back at Aviemore. | |
Back in Aviemore at lunchtime we went to Caffe Bleu for a slow lunch. Then we had a look round the McDonald Resort Shop before returning to the BnB for a rest. Outside it was windy and damp and not very pleasant. However after the rest the weather had improved a bit. We went to the Aviemore Gallery and visitor centre next door to it where Renée bought some gifts. Then on the way back we had a quick look in the Craigellachie Nature Reserve.
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| Aviemore rabbit. | A low cloud sits below the summit of Craigellachie. | A loch just inside the entrance and a path inside the Craigellachie nature reserve. | ||
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| Looking up from below the Craigellachie hill itself. | Steps in the path. | Another loch further inside the nature reserve. |
After another visit to the BnB we got some petrol then went to a Chinese restaurant next to the Aviemore gallery. However it was grubby and expensive so we legged it and went to the Happy Haggis restaurant instead. Here there was a small world moment when we were served by the same person who did Renée's hair yesterday. Two jobs it seems is not unusual around here. The meal was a nice one too. Afterwards we returned to the BnB to retire for the night.
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