Welcome to the Valhalla Holiday Home blog and website.
Here you can find images of the house and local countryside,
links to places to go and activities to do in the surrounding area.
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Overlooking River Helmsdale from the Strath
Continuing the 70's theme....
Travelling to Helmsdale in my memory banks begins circa 1970. The epic journey north to Helmsdale from the west coast of Scotland happened at least once a year, normally during school summer holidays. As a family we looked forward and willingly endured up to 15 hours of a VERY long arduous journey in dad's jalopy of the moment.
Back then it was normal for cars to be unreliable so there was a sense of adventure about the journey - would we make it to Helmsdale in one go, did we have enough food for the duration, what if there is a breakdown, would there be enough food to sustain us during this misfortune, and most importantly for me - how would we feed the family dog? In the remotest parts of Scotland there was no easy access to a public phone, and no conveniently located mechanic available to help in our hour of need. In my young world this was the nearest I was going to get to an adventure Enid Blyton style.
So to be prepared for this epic journey expedition packing was required - this was organised by our dad loading the car to the gunnels with anything and everything we might ever need. All available space had something squeezed into it .... thus allowing only a minimal spot for any passenger(s) ie normally, me and the dog, and sometimes my sister. To be honest with the weight of the car and its contents it's a wonder the car even left home.
Yet despite the weight of the car's expeditionary load we criss-crossed up and over Scotland taking various ferry rides, overtaking endless queues of caravans and tractors, negotiated sheep crowded single track roads, trundled over many cow grids (that bit was fun), endured an out of control yappy Jack Russell barking at absolutely everything, and very importantly kept close to hand a large supply of plastic bags for the inevitable bout of car sickness.
In true Gordon family style, food was a highlight of those journeys; mum ensured a travel tin of boiled sweets and choc limes were available during the journey, with a packed lunch usually consisting of a cup of tomato soup from the flask, egg and tomato sandwiches, a packet of Golden Wonder salted crisps, and chocolate biscuits - all enjoyed by the side of the road with fresh air and amazing views.
These days that journey is quite different with a recent trip from Auchterarder in Perthshire to Helmsdale taking only 4 hours, and there are many great places to stop for a bite to eat and refuel. Some of our favourites en route on the A9 is
House of Bruar, just outside Pitlochry, or
Storehouse of Foulis on the Cromarty Firth, and for additional shopping including a Costa caffeine pit stop try
Inverness Shopping Centre. There are no ferries to enjoy en route now but a few bridges to cross - the
Kessock Bridge across the Moray Firth in Inverness, the Cromarty Bridge on the Cromarty Firth and Helmsdale Bridge on reaching your destination. As a hobby I enjoy taking photographs (see below) and on a recent run north, with Spring not quite sprung the scenery is still awesome and is a reminder of where we might have had some of those picnics.
Drumochter Summit
Drumochter Pass, officially the start of the Highlands
Snow capped mountains at the Drumochter Pass
Oil Rigs on the Cromarty Firth
Salmon can be found at the Mound swimming upstream.
Loch Fleet Nature Reserve is in the distance
The Mound
River Helmsdale from the Bridge near Kildonan Lodge
River Helmsdale from the Strath
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