When choosing our last adventure I have to admit we didn’t really look where it would take us. We simply wanted to live in a Hobbit House (absolutely Tolkien connected). To our delight one had nestled just a few hours drive from Edinburgh in the Moray county near Aberlour.
Now Aberlour is a town famous for Walkers shortbread (this is where they are made) and whiskey (Aberlour and Glenallachie distilleries), none of which we could experience due to Covid situation, but more importantly – nature here offers so much, virus and otherwise free.
We had just two days there so decided to see what the guide books in our Hobbit home advise is a must – and first that included a visit to Aberlour were Linn Falls. It was a lovely walk and our retriever did enjoy cooling down, especially because there was no easy access to River Spey that haunted her senses the whole morning, but if you have ever been to Plitvicka jezera you will understand that we have a different idea about what stands behind the word waterfall. 😂
The name Linn Falls literally means … …Waterfall Fall 😊
Our next walk was a bit more challenging one, at least for the littlest of the feet. The view was all worth it, even our variation of it, as I have to confess that the winds and the rain turned us around before we reached the top of Ben Rinnes. On the other hand we used our break/rest time to meet a very unusual gigantic and furry caterpillar and to try, first time ever, cloudberries. They resemble raspberries, a bit yellowish, not as sweet and, as we found out very high in vitamin C and super healthy. Apparently they like to grow in higher elevations in cool, boggy areas – explaining why there were so many at the ‘hill of sharp point’.
Amazing views on the way to the sharp point of Ben Rinnes 
On this occasion we were more into wildlife then climbing
My personal ‘must see’, also one of the highly recommended one in all the guides was Spey Bay – place to be if you wanted to see dolphins! As the Scottish Dolphin Center was closed as well due to Covid, we kind of hoped few dolphins might come and see what is that strange fluffy thing floating around in the North Sea once Lilo got into the water.
Desperately Seeking Dolphins 😊
As expected, our sea monster floated but there were no noses of bottlenose dolphins miles away. As the wind blew us away from the shore we could not avoid feeling a bit disappointed, but all was forgotten as we discovered a wee sanctuary, a perfect place for chilled our family walk, abundant with wildlife, very peaceful and situated on our way to Hobbit Hideaway.
We checked the guides later but none of them mentioned Millbuies Loch, reason more for us to give it an unreserved five star rating. From the car park the path took us under a tunnel of rhododendrons, with a wee wooden bridge, through a beautiful woodland to the Loch.
Around the Loch goes a circular path that can be shorter or longer. We recommend the longer route that took us a bit longer than an hour but with stops to cuddle a few of thousands of baby frogs, admire a dragonfly and catch a glimpse of a very fast red squirrel. We found out later pine martens tend to roam around those areas, but we were I believe over excited with tiny frogs and not so quiet to attract pine martens.
The beauty of stillness
We had just enough time for getting lost, not literally this time, in one more location, and as the rain really wanted to clean the Earth that day we chose a woodland area. Moray Monster Trail is probably more famous among mountain bikers but it has a beautiful hiking trail as well, although something told me the little explorers would prefer to take the bike trail. As we always say – one more reason to come back!
The retriever 
on the Moray Monster Trail
But after all this experiences one I know we’ll remember the most, will definately be our home for those few days and nights – the Hobbit Hideaway. Imagine cosiness of a real Hobbit home settled in a beautiful Scottish highlands, and what you get is the wish to book your next stay just before you leave. 😊 As always the pics will tell more than words, and at one point hopefully the video of the whole experience. Until then a wee gallery…
“It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no telling where you might be swept off to.” –J.R.R. Tolkien