No.12 Highland Holidays

Family holidays were usually in Scotland and usually camping. Camping was undoubtedly the best way to experience the majestic Scottish landscape and the constantly changing weather. Forever vigilant in watching for a scrap of blue sky, that would raise the hopes for a break in the rain, and constantly looking out for dry firewood. The little girl loved setting up the temporary home and the relocation every few days. There were always tasks to be done, fetching water, cooking food, and keeping the campfire burning. It felt like living in the past.

When travelling around Scotland there were numerous castles to be seen, dotted across the mountainous landscape. Each castle impressive and inspiring the imagination. The little girl loved to think about who had build these castles, the story of the people who had lived there, and the grand parties and gathering they hosted. Imagining that she had lived there too, the little girl would ponder how she would have planned these grand events and how many princes, princesses, noble knights, and clansman would have attended.

Camping offered the perfect opportunity for storytelling. Tucked up at night in a tent, listening to the crackle of the campfire and tales of battles and betrayals, heroes and villains, fairytales, and, of course, ghost stories. Ghost stories that made it impossible to sleep after hearing them. The noises of the nocturnal wildlife were transformed by the little girls imagination into clansmen marching to battle or on a quest to rescue their queen from the turreted tower of a castle.