Autumn weekend break in the country coming up ..

I've just booked a lovely weekend break in the English countryside for the end of the month!

The autumn colours should be spectacular as the leaf fall is later than this time last year. It's my favourite season.
I'm looking forward to quiet, long walks (even if it rains), antique shop browsing, open fires and scrumptious food. 

I'm keeping the location a secret for now but will fill you in when I get back. It can't come soon enough!

Spectacular scenery and sunsets .. north of the border

I have just come back from another trip to Scotland where it was mostly all work and not very much play. Instead of banging on about the trials and tribulations of my day job, the early starts, long hours, etc I thought it would be good to have a wee look at what else was on offer in this beautiful part of the world.

We flew into Edinburgh airport and were transported to our place of work for the next week, Auchterarder, about an hour's drive away. On the uneventful drive up the M9 motorway we passed The Kelpies, two giant horse head sculptures by the artist Andy Scott. It's a pity we didn't have time to stop and at least take a photo as they looked magnificent. Auchterarder is home to Gleneagles golf club where the 40th Ryder Cup was held this year. Luckily for us the weather was mostly dry and cool, if a little breezy at times. Being Scotland the pessimists amongst us were predicting rain and cold temperatures so we had to come prepared just in case.
 
The first thing I noticed on our journey to our accommodation at the Stirling Court Hotel - situated in the grounds of Stirling University - was the beautiful light of the evening sky. Autumn had arrived but not all the leaves had changed and as the bus drove through the beautiful town of Bridge of Allan I couldn't wait to dump my bags in my room and go for a walk through the grounds and see the sun setting through the woods that surrounded us.  

Ready for 1st tee off at sunrise

Working at the Ryder Cup was an experience in itself .. for us very long hours, up at silly o'clock and being transported around in golf buggies with the dust blowing in our eyes and hair, (all very glamorous of course) but the atmosphere was amazing and the crowds vocal and well behaved. 

On our drive to and from work every day (except our last 3 days we travelled in darkness both ways!) all we could see for miles were rolling hills and fields occupied by sheep and cattle .. for me a welcome variation from my usual traffic jammed streets and high rise buildings!

If I have the opportunity to come to this region again in my own time, I would explore the lochs and villages, go for long walks and wind down for the evening in a lovely little pub with an open fire eating bangers and mash washed down with a fruity glass of red! 

Dream on HQ ...