A HIGHLAND FLING

Welcome to my little piece of travel inspo! This is the Tumblr site for my travel blog: www.ahighlandfling.com/

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Barcelona is vast and beautiful, there’s so much to see, and I’m impressed at those who manage to cram everything in to only a couple of days!

But it can be done – I was there for almost a week, mixing spending a little time at the hotel to relax with exploring. However most of the sights I saw could be covered in just two or three days.

Barcelona is incredibly easy to get around for those travelling solo, or just a bit unsure. The transport system is easy to figure out, and usually costs €2.20 a ride (Google maps helps a lot)! Most of the main city sights are also within walking distance!

1.  The Parc de la Ciutadella and Fountain

This was by far my favourite place in Barcelona. The park itself is stunning and very popular with locals and tourists alike. It was built in mid-19th century, and used to be Barcelona’s only green space! The fountain, being the main attraction, was first inaugurated in 1881 without any sculptures (these came later). The man who erected it, Josep Fontsére, wanted to make it look vaguely like the Trevi Fountain in Rome. Within the park you’ll also find a zoo (which I didn’t visit) and also the Museum of Natural Sciences.

As a bonus, you’ll also find a mammoth statue in the park that is equally fun to take photos with!

2. Sagrada Familia

This is a must see obviously. Designed by Gaudí, its construction began in March 1882, and it is still unfinished to this day! It’s anticipated that the building will be completed in 2026, 100 years after Gaudí’s death.

Riley and I didn’t go inside, however we have been told it’s equally as beautiful as the exterior. Just one of those attractions you must tick off the list if you’re coming to Barcelona. You can find out more about the Sagrada Familia and its history here.

You’ll find other buildings of Gaudí’s throughout the city, and a selection of tours to take you round. If you’re keen on architecture or art in general, these will be worth going on to dive deeper into the history of some of the more famous sights of the city.

3. Arc de Triomf

This impressive work of architecture was built as the main access gate for the 1888 Barcelona World Fair by Josep Vilaseca i Casanovas. It’s only a short walk across the road from the The Parc de la Ciutadella so a must see on your way in or out of the park.

4. The Kiss of Freedom Wall

This wall is quite incredible. It’s a mosaic made up of thousands of little ceramic tiles to symbolise love and liberty. On each tile there is a photo of a person or a place that in some way expresses freedom, and this makes up a beautiful, larger image of two people locking lips. Photographer Joan Fontcuberta asked local people to send in their moments of freedom, and together with ceramicist Toni Cumella, printed around 4,000 of these photos onto mosaics. Pretty cool concept for a wall mural.

You’ll find the kiss of freedom at Plaça d’Isidre Nonell in the city’s gothic quarter.

5. Barcelona Cathedral

This Gothic cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Barcelona, and was constructed from the thirteenth to fifteenth centuries. Its architecture is stunning, and it’s located in a bustling square often heaving with tourists. Still a very worthwhile stop, just watch your valuables as pickpockets can be rife in these areas!

While I was there, I also took a yoga class on the beach (you can find the link to my post on this here) and a photoshoot tour of the city to capture some moments with a professional photographer. The photoshoot tour was a great way to get to know the city better, and fantastic for solo travellers who still want to get great snaps of themselves enjoying the trip!

I’d highly recommend checking out the Airbnb experiences in any area you’re going to. They offer a very unique local perspective of your destination and often provide something a little different to try on your travels!

  Barcelona’s Top 5 Must See Sights Barcelona is vast and beautiful, there’s so much to see, and I’m impressed at those who manage to cram everything in to only a couple of days!

[ahighlandfling]

Our road trip to Death Valley was a slightly scary one. Think: middle of a desert, baking heat, no phone signal, and off-road tracks through a mountain range. We also had no idea where we were, or how long the road in front of us stretched for. And we had to reach Las Vegas in Nevada by night.

We had our route mapped out when we left Morongo Valley, CA that morning. It was to follow the main roads to Badwater Basin in Death Valley, then onto Las Vegas where we had booked accommodation for our last night in the US – a trip that was around 370 miles. However after we set off, we soon hit our first problem. The main road to take us to Badwater was closed. A quick search on Google Maps showed us another route through a mountain range that wouldn’t take too much longer, so we changed plans, and took the exit for this road. This appeared to be our only other option, as any other route would have added hours to our journey, and there had been a weather warning put out for storms arriving that evening.

The last tarmac road we saw

Soon after taking this exit however, we realised the road wasn’t quite a road. It became narrow and the tarmac disappeared. We also realised it had been a long time since we last saw another passing vehicle. Both our phone signals started to become unreliable. At this point I was feeling a little bit anxious, so I fired a message to my sister back in Scotland while we stopped at the side of the road to consider our predicament. It read something along the lines of: “We’re somewhere between X and Y, losing signal, if you don’t hear from me by 6pm tonight, something has happened, and you’ll need to get in touch with emergency services here.”

Panorama of the place we stopped after entering the gravel trail

And with that, in true Riley and Megan style, we decided to go for it, and continue on this gravel track, hoping we didn’t pick up another puncture. We had to replace the tyre once already on this trip, and neither of us fancied dealing with another flat in the middle of nowhere.

The track went on as far as the eye could see. After losing signal completely, we had no way of checking whether we were still on the right road or how long we had left to go. We passed a few splits in the trail (incredibly managing to always pick the right one), passed a disused quarry, and hit a road block as we came over the peak of a hill in the form of some cattle.

This was where the track got unbearably worse due to a landslide. Riley did his best manoeuvring our – quite low – hire car over some extreme potholes and rivets in the gravel. I’m very surprised we didn’t lose the exhaust or anything else hanging off the bottom. Poor Riley had to deal with the pressure of saving the car from the worst damage, and my panicking as I hung out the window and tried to direct him.

After we cleared the rubble and began our descent, we battered on along the trail towards Badwater Basin, and the aptly named Furnace Creek. It was in this area that the highest air temperature ever on the surface of the Earth was recorded, at a whopping 56.7 °C and the highest surface temperature ever recorded at 93.9 °C. Not the sort of place you want to be stuck!

They call it Death Valley for a reason. It’s one of the hottest places on Earth, alongside deserts in the Middle East. The valley got its name from prospectors in 1849, during the California Gold Rush, after 13 pioneers died from an early expedition across the area. Amazingly, the area has been home to the Timbisha tribe of Native Americans for the past millennium despite its harsh conditions, and some families still reside in Furnace Creek today.

After another hour or so grinding along the track, we eventually saw our first glimpse of civilisation again. I have never in my life been more glad to see a tarmac road.

We eventually recovered phone signal again and were able to recheck our route. We’d somehow made it to the end of the path we took without losing our way. With a sense of triumph, we drove the rest of the way to Badwater Basin, where a thunderstorm brewed in the distance. We followed a motorcyclist down into Death Valley, and incredibly, the sky opened and it felt like Death Valley’s annual precipitation of 60 mm fell in that one moment when we were driving through it. What were the chances?

After making it to Badwater (you can read about this place here!) we spent a bit of time there before continuing our journey to Vegas.

As night fell, we hit our final two problems of the day: low fuel, and some wild lightning storms. Luckily we hit an open fuel stop in Pahrump, and managed to negotiate some awful flash flooding that was making the roads increasingly dangerous. The lightning that illuminated our way was the most violent and captivating I’d ever seen in my life.

After probably one of the most stressful days of my life, we made it to Las Vegas, celebrated with dinner at Taco Bell, and hit the strip for one last night before returning home to Scotland. I don’t know where either of us found the energy, but we made the absolute most of our last day in the States.

    Backroad to Death Valley Our road trip to Death Valley was a slightly scary one. Think: middle of a desert, baking heat, no phone signal, and off-road tracks through a mountain range.

[ahighlandfling]

This salt flat in California is by far one of the most interesting places I’ve visited so far. Badwater Basin, located in Death Valley National Park, is a a closed basin with a depth of 86m (262ft) below sea level. This is the lowest point in North America, and it was considered to be the lowest point in the western hemisphere until Laguna del Carbón, another salt lake in Argentina was discovered.

It’s called ‘Badwater’ due to a fact that is obvious when you arrive there – any water found is undrinkable due to the accumulated salt. We arrived at Badwater during a thunderstorm, and drove through what was likely Death Valley’s annual rainfall of only 60mm! The average precipitation in the area is extremely low due to it being sheltered by four major mountain ranges, and any water that does accumulate is quickly evaporated. The only water that hangs round comes from a small spring fed pool located by the car park, which is actually home to many insects and the ‘badwater’ snail.

The salt lake is vast, and you can walk all the way across it if you want to. On arrival, we parked the car in the designated car park, and walked along the funnel of salt that leads you to the flats. It was obscenely hot outside. However, the air is dry there, and there was a strong breeze that allowed you to stay out a bit longer than you would have if there was no wind at all.

We walked around for a while, admiring the beautiful lines cast by the evaporation and continual freeze-thaw cycles, that over time push the salt crust into honeycomb hexagons, and occasionally heart shapes.

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It’s really worth finding a quiet spot just to sit on the flat and take in the atmosphere for a while. The presence of the surrounding mountains, and expanse of the salt underneath you provides an unusual concoction of feelings. You almost feel like you’re being swaddled by the earth.

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Tourist Tip: The cliff above the car park holds a small sign (about two thirds of the way up) that marks the sea level for some perspective as to how geographically low you are!

Also, take sunglasses. The salt flat is really bright when you’re standing on it.

Spot the sea level sign!

Badwater Basin – the Lowest Point in North America This salt flat in California is by far one of the most interesting places I've visited so far.

[ahighlandfling]

Let me start by saying: travelling with your partner is an absolute must in your relationship if you can. Whether it’s a month backpacking in Indonesia, or four days in Berlin, you should expose your relationship to the tests and revelations of travel.

Riley and I started travelling together very early on in our relationship – we kind of had to given that we lived in different countries for the first few months of it! Our time abroad together brought us much closer, much faster, and after a year and a half, we moved in together. What is usually a huge step for most couples, for us it was just another extended trip in our lives. We had already spent multiple consecutive weeks away in each others company, from road tripping in America and months spent in Australia, to week long breaks here and there –  we learned a lot. Not just about each other, but ourselves, and what we needed to maintain this relationship and continue to grow it.

Ranch work in California, 2018

Ranch work in California, 2018

Riley was very much the seasoned traveller when I met him, and while I had been on various family holidays to Mexico, Cuba, Cyprus, the usual holiday island destinations (and the odd UK train trip with a very responsible friend) the prospect of really travelling was all still new to me. I was fortunate that Riley had the patience to support me through all the initial stresses and responsibilities. This is something that has at times put a lot of strain on us (I’m a worry-wart in recovery to put it mildly), but going through these issues together has taught us how to be effective in supporting each other – and knowing when to tell the other they’re just being silly…

Australia 2019

Australia 2019

Travelling with your partner also teaches you the value of alone time. Having time to yourself is so incredibly important, and this is something else I’ve struggled with. For a long time I hated keeping my own company (and I’m by no means a social butterfly) but I take a lot of comfort from being around people I’m familiar with. Spending so much time in close quarters with someone else teaches you that there is peace, and value in spending time with yourself, and it makes you appreciate the company of your partner all the more when you’re back together.

  Prague, 2018

Prague, 2018

We’ve encountered some pretty stressful situations, as you can when you’re away in another country. These can often force you into communicating clearly with each other. After all, you only have each other most of the time you’re away, and falling out/not speaking for ages is often impractical, in addition to being a poor way to solve things. Riley and I quickly learned to talk about things, and argue effectively – we all do it at times so you have to learn to be reconciliatory if you want things to continue working!

Washington DC, 2018

Travelling together will also help you to be more appreciative of your partner. You learn things about them you might not otherwise if you hadn’t put yourself in this situation. Riley is incredibly forward thinking, and has a distinct lack of fear with most things in life which I admire hugely. This has in turn highlighted aspects in which I could improve on in life. Travelling exposes many aspects of your personality you may not have realised you had, and it can be a rewarding challenge navigating those discoveries with another person.

Bavaria, 2019

Bavaria, 2019

Experiencing the world with your partner not only has benefits to your relationship, but also to yourself as a person. Negotiating travel experiences with someone close to you, can give you the confidence to take on these challenges on your own. I will regularly catch flights by myself now – it’s become the norm as I tend to book the cheaper options where Riley get’s flown places by his work, usually with a different airline. I also recently explored Barcelona on my own (my first little solo expedition), something which would have terrified me a year ago!

Australia, 2017

Australia, 2017

You should travel with your partner at least once, and as often as you can, if you can, for as long as you can. It will turn you into a better communicator, and you’ll learn to compromise, appreciate, and support one another in ways you wouldn’t have known you could otherwise (or wouldn’t have discovered until after you’d moved in together)! It was a great test for us, and allowed living with each other to feel like the most natural thing.

Travelling brings you closer together, and you’ll have amazing memories to look back on for years to come as a result too.

Australia, 2017

Australia, 2017

    Why You Should Travel with Your Partner Let me start by saying: travelling with your partner is an absolute must in your relationship if you can.

[ahighlandfling]

The highlight of our stay this year in Garmisch-Partenkirchen came in the form of an unconquered mountain. Unconquered to me that is – Riley had scaled it twice before and I made it halfway up last year.

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The first time we tried to climb this mountain together, we made it as far as the grassy meadow that’s around halfway up, before being stopped by heavy snowfall. After beginning our climb slightly late in the day, and given our rate of movement was being slowed ever more by the relentless snowfall, we knew we weren’t making it to the top and back before dark. With the snow making it increasingly difficult to navigate the tracks, we opted not to be those amateur hikers that need to be rescued after trying to climb in adverse weather conditions, so we headed back down.

Eckenhütte – the alpine meadow where we found the horses on our trip there the following summer.

We were both disappointed, but resolved to make it to the top when we came back the following year. And so, a year later (and in more favorable weather conditions), we did just that.

The mountain, Wank, rises up to 1,780 metres (5,840 ft) at the summit, where you can find the excellently named Wankhaus – a restaurant serving meals and refreshing beers, and also offering accommodation. For those that just want to get straight to the incredible views and enjoy a beer at the top without the hard work, you can catch the mountain’s cable car system – the Wankbahn – which usually operates between May and September. The name Wank actually comes from an old meaning for ‘slope’, so you can drag your mind out of the gutter now.

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We went on a weekday, with a bag full of snacks (can’t go anywhere without snacks) and began our climb. It was warm, and the first part of the track is steep, but Riley pointed out a shortcut that we had taken a year previously, after we had been climbing for about 10/15 minutes. This took us on a far steeper but more direct route, under a small electric fence, that leads you to join up with the main path further up the hill. This saved us about half an hour of climbing, I reckon. There’s a clear livestock/deer trail you can follow, so it’s hard to go off track – however, I wouldn’t recommend straying from the main path if you get easily lost. Take detours at your own risk!

Further up the trail

Just before we reached the meadow, our finishing point on last year’s hike, the sound of cow bells drifted through the woodland. Being the animal junkie that I am, I was excited at the prospect of getting some nice snaps with some of the local cattle, a traditional sight throughout Bavaria. However what we stumbled upon was far more exciting.

Not in fact cattle!

We happened across a herd of very friendly horses. I was in my element. For those that don’t know, I was that weird horse girl at school, and this went to lead on to a successful career with horses – I currently work as a self-employed horse trainer and riding coach. Most people go on holiday to escape their work – I, on the other hand, will delight in every opportunity to spend time with horses.

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So Riley very graciously waited while we snapped heaps of photos, and I got some hugely appreciated horse time in. If you’d like to check out some more lovely horse shots, click here! It was magical, and I could have spent all day there. It appears that the horses spend their summer months grazing there (they weren’t around last winter) so if you’d like the chance to see them, you’re best going between May and October.

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They are all very friendly, and seemed interested in all the passers-by, so if you’re a little nervous about this sort of thing you should be careful if you decide to approach them. I also feel the need to reiterate: please don’t feed horses that aren’t yours! Horses have very sensitive stomachs, and can get very ill if you feed them things they’re not meant to eat. It’s always best to leave them to eat the grass that grows under their feet – instead, a gentle rub on the neck is appreciated with these guys.

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After Riley managed to drag me away from the horses, we continued on up the mountain. Everything from here on was new ground to me, and the path got rocky and steep as we progressed, zig-zagging upwards.

At long last, around three hours (probably more than this after the horse time I had) after we started our climb, we made it to the summit. It was almost three o’clock and we were tired and sweaty, but triumphant.

There’s a paragliding platform overlooking the town at the top of the path which makes for a great photo spot. We stopped here to admire the view before heading up to the Wank-Haus for a drink (there’s also another restaurant at the summit called Sonnenalm).

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We were very glad we brought snacks however as they had sold out of almost all their cakes and had stopped serving hot meals around 3pm, ready for the kitchen closing. I’m not sure if this is a regular occurrence or just on the day we went up, but if you’re planning on eating up there I’d aim to arrive in good time for lunch.

We still enjoyed a drink overlooking the valley – I opted for a traditional Bavarian beer, before heading down to some benches to enjoy the pretzels we brought with us.

Bavaria, 2019

Bavaria, 2019

There are multiple routes to take you down or up the mountain – including the cable car which you can catch one way if you like. We chose to take the rear path down off the mountain to see a different side of it. This was equally steep in places, but it led us down to the road you can take if you’re taking a car up.

On top of the world and seriously questioning my fitness.

We made it back to our AirBnB just as it started to get dark, and just as promised, we returned halfway up Wank to the meadow on our last day in Germany, just to see the horses one last time.

In my element!

Wank Info:

Duration: 2.5/3.5 hours to the summit. Faster if you’re fit and don’t stop to talk to horses!

Wankbahn (cable car): €22.50 per adult for ascent and descent. €15 for a single ride. Dogs are also allowed on at the additional cost of €5!

This was the rough route that we took. If using Google Maps, make sure your route includes Eckenhütte (this is the alpine meadow where we found the horses). The route down to the Wankbahn is the exact one we took, however the route up shows the easiest way to the summit (and not the shortcut we took, which isn’t marked on maps).

          Conquering Wank Mountain The highlight of our stay this year in Garmisch-Partenkirchen came in the form of an unconquered mountain.

[ahighlandfling]

Garmisch-Partenkirchen (or GaPa, as it’s known by locals), in Bavaria, Germany, has many wonderful places located around the town.

The most enchanting find for us however, were the horses we discovered – halfway up a mountain. Since we spent a great deal of time in the mountain glade with the horses, I’ve dedicated a post solely to the photos we captured there, as there are many!

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The mountain (Mount Wank, that you can read about here), is a decent hike, and halfway up you’ll discover an alpine meadow where the horses usually hang out. After some research, I found that a farmer uses the mountain as summer grazing for his horses (and, sometimes, cattle).

The horses wear cowbells around their necks to make them easier to locate, as they’re allowed to roam free over a wide area. Most of them are very friendly and a mixture of ages, the younger ones being more playful. As I said in my other post, if you’re a little nervous around large animals, you should be careful if you decide to approach them. Horses are sensitive animals and extremely intuitive. They won’t like hanging around you if you give off a nervous or overbearing energy.

Note: Please don’t feed the horses, as they have very sensitive stomachs, and can get very ill if you feed them certain things.

The following photos were taken over two days as we went back up a second time so I could hang out with them again for a while longer. Enjoy my childlike joy!

Click on images to enlarge

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Photos: © http://www.ahighlandfling.com 2020

The Horses of GaPa in Photos Garmisch-Partenkirchen (or GaPa, as it's known by locals), in Bavaria, Germany, has many wonderful places located around the town.

[ahighlandfling]

I should say, the best place to stay that Riley and I have found so far, however, that title is far less effective as clickbait. Riley has been to many places in the south of Germany, we’ve visited a few together (more to come in the future, no doubt) but there is one place that has called us back again and again.

For its fantastic location, variety, accommodation, and things to do, you really can’t beat the charming town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen that lies south of Munich. This German ski resort in Bavaria has everything you need from home comforts in the more fashionable area of Garmisch, to the a taste of traditional Bavaria in Partenkirchen.

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Town History

The town was formed originally from two that were united; the town of Garmisch (in the west) and the town of Partenkirchen (in the east), in 1935. This came about as the mayors of each town were forced to combine their areas by the order of Adolf Hitler before the 1936 Winter Olympic Games. You can even visit the “Great Olympic Hill” in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, that hosted the ski jumping event, and held the start and finish lines of the cross country skiing competitions. The ski jump is still in use every year as part of a world cup competition on the first of January, The Four Hills Tournament.

  Prior to joining, both towns had seen terrible hardship over the years. A swamp-like valley floor made growing crops difficult, and many farmers in the area routinely lost their livestock to bears, wolves, and lynx. The people also suffered through several bouts of the bubonic plague, which, combined with the crop failures, led to a series of witch hunts around the 1500s.

If the historical side of this town interests you, it’s worth staying near or in Partenkirchen. Here you’ll find traditional houses, and old cobbled streets that easily transport you back in time.

  Things To See and Do

Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a main hub for skiers and hikers, given the wealth of mountains that surround the town – so if you’re into the outdoors, this is the perfect place for you! Some of the main points of interest include:

The Zugspitze – Germany’s highest peak, near the village of Grainau to the south of Garmisch.

Mount Wank – A fantastic hike with a view over the whole of Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

View from the Wank Haus on Mt Wank

Partnach Gorge (Partnachklamm) – where the Partnach river has carved a stunning route through a 2km long gap. You can purchase tickets (€6 per adult) to walk through the gorge via a walkway between the limestone cliffs. For more on this or if you fancy visiting the gorge – see my post here!

  A year later!

Eibsee – a stunning a lake that’s around a 40 min bus ride from Garmisch-Partenkirchen (€4.80 each way). There’s a beautiful hike round the lake which lies at the base of the Zugspitze, and the water here is like the water you’d see in the Caribbean!

  Werdenfels Castle – a ruined castle that was in use until 1632 and was the site where many of those accused of witch craft were held, tried, and executed. It was almost fully torn down in the 1750s after its abandonment due to the frightening superstitions surrounding it.

Ludwigstrasse – Partenkirchen’s main street! A stroll along here cannot be missed. It will transport you back in time and there are some lovely shops, cafes, and traditional Bavarian beer houses to stop at for some grub or to enjoy a drink.

  Accommodation

Garmisch-Partenkirchen has a huge choice of places to stay, from hotels and B&Bs to apartments and private residences offering rooms. I’d recommend booking as far in advance as you can no matter the time of year (summer is popular with hikers, then you have a price increase with most places in the winter with ski season starting). Riley and I have found excellent places to stay on AirBnB on both occasions. The place we stayed at in the Partenkirchen area this year was super cosy, the owner was very friendly, and it was near all the walks we wanted to go on.

View from our AirBnB this year

Most places you’ll stay in Garmisch-Partenkirchen will also offer you a GaPa card (visitor’s card). This card allows you small discounts on local attractions (like the Partnach Gorge) and gets you free public transport!

Tip: If you’re in the Garmisch part of town looking for a place to eat – our absolute favourite place to go is Andiamo Burger-Grill and Pizzeria. It has always been quiet when we’ve visited, and Monday’s are half price pizza night – which is incredible value as the pizzas are huge! They also do burger deals on a Wednesday, there’s a wealth of food on the menu, and the staff are super friendly. Combined with an all round chilled out atmosphere, it’s a great place to unwind after a day exploring.

  So far, we haven’t found a place that’s ticked as many boxes for a refreshing alpine getaway as Garmisch-Partenkirchen, and I’m sure we’ll return here for years to come!

  Garmisch-Partenkirchen: The Best Place to Stay in Bavaria I should say, the best place to stay that Riley and I have found so far, 

[ahighlandfling]

Partnach Gorge (Partnachklamm in German) is a must-see destination on a visit to Garmisch-Partenkirchen – you could even make it a day trip from Munich! We tried to visit the gorge last year on our winter visit to Bavaria, and despite it being closed due to avalanches, we still climbed over part of it. We made the visit again this year in the summer, so we could walk the length of the gorge, and it was breathtaking.

Last year, there was a lot of snowfall in the area. This, combined with bad weather and some rock falls around the gorge, had forced the gorge to be closed off to tourists. With no one being around when we went, we scrambled up the snowy hillside to try and get a better view of the gorge running through. The volume of debris that had been cast down the mountainside made it very clear why the gorge was closed off to people.

Last year.

Huge shards of ice were tumbling down the gravelly slopes and bouncing into the water, even as we stood there. Obviously not the safest thing to do, but it was exciting to clamber over these huge ice boulders on our short climb upwards!

Eventually we reached a point where we couldn’t go any further, the ice became too hazardous to walk on without slipping into the gorge below, so we called it a day and headed back down.

Fast forward a year (and to better weather), and we were back, this time to walk through the gorge itself.

A year ago!

A year later!

It was wet, and there’s no avoiding getting a bit damp with the spray from the waterfalls and the dripping tunnels you walk through. The walk was like a spooky natural roller coaster – the narrow path winds through tunnels and along ledges inside the gorge, which is totally exhilarating. You can get some amazing shots with your camera as you go through!

This year.

Taller people should mind their heads going through the tunnels (not a problem for me) as some of the rock ceiling is quite low down.

Once you make it out the other side, there are several walks you can go leading you through the forests beyond the gorge. I’d highly recommend going a bit further once you’re through as there’s a section of hundreds of eerie cairns all sitting by the river bank after you cross the bridge. It’s hard to miss – just follow the river round to a ford on the left bank, and you’ll see the bridge. The rocks are just on the other side.

Partnach Gorge is a highly recommended walk if you like the idea of immersing yourself in one of Bavaria’s natural wonders!

Partnach Gorge Info

Prices:

Adults – €6 (€5 with your GaPa Visitor’s card)

Children up to 17 years – €3

  Opening Times:

October to May: 08.00 a.m. – 6.00  p.m.

June to September: 06.00 a.m. – 10.00 p.m.

Last admission is 30 minutes before gorge closes!

Short notice closures sometimes apply due to things like weather/rockfall.

  Top Visitor Tips

Bring a rain jacket, but not an umbrella. The passageways are narrow so umbrellas can be a bit of an inconvenience.

Dogs are welcome (we passed a few brave pooches!) but must stay on a lead.

The gorge is unfortunately not wheelchair accessible, and buggies/prams, and bicycles are also not permitted.

For parking, you can use the car park at the Olympic Ski Station – from there, the entrance to the gorge is about a 25 minute walk.

Walking boots/footwear with grip is a must.

There are parts of the walk that are in darkness, bring a torch or use your phone to light the way if you’re not good with dark tunnels!

The walk isn’t particularly long, as you could walk through and back in under an hour. However, I’d make sure you leave plenty of time before the gorge closes to stop and take photos, and explore the other side!

Partnach Gorge: Visitors Guide Partnach Gorge (Partnachklamm in German) is a must-see destination on a visit to Garmisch-Partenkirchen - you could even make it a day trip from Munich!

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Last month, we went back to Bavaria, Germany, and enjoyed some hiking time amongst some of the most stunning mountains and lakes you could clap eyes on. I’ve composed a little photo-diary of what we did on our first stop on this trip.

The last time I was in Bavaria was March 2018, and we experienced the Bavarian alps in all their snowy winter glory.

Riley looking all majestic (2018)

There was quite a different feel this time round with highs of 24 degrees Celsius, and the last of the summer sun still gracing the sky. Our first stop after catching the train from Munich, was the little town of Kiefersfelden, on the border next to Tirol, Austria.

We picked this spot to stay for a few nights because we fancied staying somewhere new for a short while, before heading on to Riley’s favourite place in Bavaria, Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

  Day one saw us walking all the way to Austria (again!) to a different town this time: Kufstein. The trail took us via a lake, Hechtsee, a stunning expanse of water just beyond the border, and a short climb from our AirBnB. Surrounded by mountains, the water is clear as glass, and we happened upon an abundance of beautiful fish hanging out by the shore. Anyone who says watching fish isn’t relaxing is dead wrong – I could have spent all day there.

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After spending some time admiring the lake’s tranquillity, we headed on to Kufstein for some dinner, and caught the train back to Kiefersfelden just before dark. It had been a very long day (we’d been on the go since 4:50am to catch our flight) and on top of that, fitted in a hike to Austria all on our arrival day. The perks of travelling early – you can gain loads of extra time to sight see! Going to bed at 8pm felt perfectly justified as a result, and I got a hefty 13.5 hours sleep that night. Talk about waking up feeling refreshed – I wish I could get about thirteen hours every night.

The track down to Kufstein

Fortress by the river in Kufstein

Day two consisted of a hike to Giessenbachklamm, a stunning gorge straight from a fantasy novel. It’s worth noting that the gorge is closed from mid-November until Easter time due to avalanche and ice fall dangers.

Giessenbachklamm

Schopper Alm was our next stop, a traditional Bavarian Beer Haus/accommodation, in the mountains (though we didn’t stop for a beer). We stumbled across their very friendly resident goats, and you could purchase feed for them from a little dispenser on a tree which I though was a nice touch. Animal time always makes my day.

  We hiked back down through the mountains and finished up with another walk round Hechtsee (I was keen to see the fish again). Dinner on the balcony watching the sun set with a Fritz-Kola in hand (my favourite drink ever) was the order of the evening. Perfect way to end the day, in my opinion.

When in Germany, you must try this!

Day three, our last day in Kiefersfelden before heading on to our next destination, saw a lengthy hike to Hocheck in the neighbouring town of Oberaudorf, through/over some mountains. Google maps may say the route we took, takes 1 hour and 43 minutes, but let me tell you, with my dodgy knees and lack of cardio – it took closer to 3.5 hours. To be fair, we also stopped for snacks on route.

  The hike to Hocheck was an interesting one. We walked through quiet forests, and saw parts of a river that had alpine water so turquoise, it looked like it should be from the Caribbean. Then we discovered a tiny cabin (we thought abandoned since it had a busted lock swinging from the door). After a peek through the window, Riley opened the door and it looked like someone had potentially been in recently given the freshly chopped wood in a pile by the door. I’d post the photos I have of the inside if it wasn’t for the nude calendar girls on the walls (and I know the demographic of readers for my blog varies drastically). I’ve also seen far too many horror films, so I was keen to move on after seeing the axe propped against the door, and the large hacksaw by the bed.

  The scene that greeted us when we finally arrived at Hocheck was very Sound of Music-esque. It was quite a breathtaking sight to climb out of the shadowy woodland, and suddenly see hills of rolling green, mountain chalets, and hear the faint but familiar cowbells in the distance.

We decided to park ourselves here for a while, much to my delight as there were more loose goats roaming the hillside to befriend. We then lay on the grass (I napped while Riley read his book) and spent some time relaxing in the warmth of the late afternoon sun.

  As the sun drifted from view behind the mountains, we headed down into Oberaudorf (the next town over from where we were staying) to catch the train back, but not before I found some ponies (and of course), I had to stop and say hello.

  Picking up a pizza from the Snack Haus on the way back to our AirBnB was the next order of the evening, and it was enjoyed with yet more Fritz-Kolas on the balcony.

That is how we spent our few days in beautiful Kiefersfelden. It’s a quiet little town, there are a few supermarkets/eating places but it’s mainly a hub for hill walkers and skiers in the winter season so if you’re into the outdoors, it’s a lovely place for a few days break.

Once again, another little Bavarian town that was a real treat to visit, and it had some breathtaking (not just because of the steepness) mountain countryside to enjoy!

  Kicking Back in Kiefersfelden Last month, we went back to Bavaria, Germany, and enjoyed some hiking time amongst some of the most stunning mountains and lakes you could clap eyes on.

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Easy Ways to Find the Cheapest Flights

Easy Ways to Find the Cheapest Flights

We all know booking flights can be stressful. Getting the right flight can mean the difference between starting your trip off right, or creating a living nightmare that would threaten to put you off flying altogether.

Whilst we can’t guarantee ourselves a flight with no screaming children in the seat behind, or the person next to us being the world’s most intense snorer – there are some tips that…

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We recently took a trip to the Scottish Dark Sky Observatory, in Dalmellington, Ayrshire. Riley’s very into space, so it was one of his birthday gifts from me this year – and a chance for us both to see the night sky in a little more detail.

Now, when you live in Scotland, and you want to stargaze, you’ll likely come across a problem – finding a clear bloody night to see anything at all. We have a ridiculous amount of rainy and cloudy weather in this country. I won’t say that’s a bad thing because that’s why our forests, and grass, get so green and lush, but when you want to see the Moon – just for one night – it can make things rather difficult.

Anyway, after some weather watching and careful calculations, I set a date that I was reasonably confident would offer us clear skies. We set off for Ayrshire, making a stop at Ayr Beach in the early evening as we had a lot of time to kill before the event at nightfall.

I had been warned in advance about the road conditions leading to the observatory (and not to follow the gps as it would take us on the wrong route). However the staff at SDSO gave us very clear directions so finding the place was a breeze. I was a little worried about my car with it being so low down, at the same time, I grew up in the country, and work with horses, so I’m used to miles of off road, bumpy farm tracks, and fairly confident navigating potholes. There were points to park your car and walk, however it was quite a distance so I opted to drive all the way up.

Unfortunately, we did get stuck behind a lady driving an Audi (not very confidently) so my little car struggled even more having to stop on some very steep hills, while the lady in front decided which path she’d take round some potholes. If you’re a city driver, and concerned about your car – leave it at one of the passing spaces.

The worst bit of the track is the last bit, which the lady in front stopped at, blocking the whole track, then tried to wave me and the other two cars behind to go past. This was impossible as the track dropped away to a small cliff on very loose gravel, so we all had to wait until she plucked up enough courage to continue on.

This is the worst part of the track, heading back down from the Observatory, which isn’t that bad if you keep to the left side (right side on the way in)

For those worried; take your time, try not to get stuck behind anyone as some hills need a bit of a run up (unless you’re in a 4X4), and the track is perfectly drive-able all the way to the top (I drive a small Renault Dynamique). The drive up gives you some cracking views of the surrounding area, and was a lot of fun in my book – all part of the experience!

When we arrived, it was decided by staff that we’d skip the introduction in the lecture room, and head straight outside given that we didn’t know how long the clear skies would last.

Heading up stairs, we went out onto the viewing platform to catch our first glimpse of the Moon through one of the telescopes on site. The guys that were organising the viewings were very knowledgeable, good at answering our questions, and explaining everything we could see. The only downside to the evening really was the size of the group, which Riley and I both felt was too large. This meant there was a lot of standing around in between, and limited time looking through the scopes. They did have iPads placed around that gave you information on the current night sky, however not much else to do besides wait your turn to have a look through the second scope.

After observing the Moon (and being able to use the telescope for photos which was pretty cool!) they switched to focusing on the planet Jupiter and it’s many moons. Even though it was a speck of white dots on the viewing glass, you could occasionally make out Jupiter’s oceans cascading across the surface of the planet when the haze settled momentarily.

We then turned to look at Saturn, who’s rings were clearly visible when you got a break in the haze. The two men manning the scopes were very patient at correcting the image if it drifted out of view (which happens very quickly, especially when the moon is magnified so much). As the Earth and Moon are constantly moving, the scope often loses focus on it’s subject.

Saturn: taken with my phone through the telescope

I would say that even in summer, wrap up warm as it still gets very cold at night. The midges (our native biting insect) also appeared towards the end, so bug repellent may also be useful in the summer months!

After an hour and a bit of observing, the clouds moved in and we were awfully glad they decided to skip the lecture, and come upstairs first as the Moon disappeared from view.

Heading back down, we entered the lecture room and watched a short documentary on the next race to the Moon. The indoor area has an interactive zone with lots of space memorabilia along the hall from the cinema/lecture room, and a gift shop. There are also two friendly golden retrievers that hang out there, who I was delighted to see. Any excuse for dog time.

As soon as the film had finished, we made tracks, both of us keen to get out and along the road before we got stuck behind anyone else. This proved to be a good move as we were out of the forest and back on the main road long before everyone else was.

The session costs £16 a head for an adult, and you can book direct through the website at https://scottishdarkskyobservatory.co.uk

Overall, an insightful evening was had, definitely made all the more exciting with a clear night. The observatory do cater for evenings where you can’t see anything because of cloud cover, however booking it for a clear night, and keeping your fingers crossed, would be more advisable just to get the most out of the visit!

Stunning views on the road up to the Observatory.

Scottish Dark Sky Observatory We recently took a trip to the Scottish Dark Sky Observatory, in Dalmellington, Ayrshire. Riley’s very into space, so it was one of his birthday gifts from me this year - and a chance for us both to see the night sky in a little more detail.

[ahighlandfling]

Beach Yoga in Barcelona

Beach Yoga in Barcelona

Beach yoga has been on my list (alongside goat yoga) for a long time. Now, I’m no yogi myself, but I’m always keen to try new things, so when I saw Zlata’s Beach Yoga class on Barcelona Beach, I decided to book myself in for a session.

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Volunteer work is one of the best ways to further any skill, and is an excellent form of continual professional development. If you have an employable skill already, doing volunteer work opens up doors for things like work/stay opportunities. This is one way Riley and I were able to secure free accommodation on our travels in the States. 

Finding accommodation in exchange for some work was much easier given that I’m a riding coach and trainer at home in Scotland, with years of experience with horses – something that’s always sought after, as caring for horses requires a lot of work! However if you can offer any skill that may be of use, or just a helping hand with something, there are many warm hearted people in the world that would love to open their doors to a traveller looking for a place to stay. Couch surfing is one way to do this that doesn’t require as much in exchange, however I wanted to challenge myself and explore a different equestrian culture to the one I’m used to in Scotland.

Luke, an Arabian gelding in AZ and I

After such a positive experience volunteering at Zephyr Horses in Byron Bay, Australia at the beginning of 2018, I wanted to explore equestrian culture in the United States, and try my hand at Western riding. It was as easy as making an advert, and posting it in some local horsey pages on Facebook for Arizona and Nevada – two places I was keen to see on my trip. I had also e-mailed a few ranches in California that were of interest, to see if they could offer accomodation in exchange for work. It paid off to contact several places, however I was delighted when Arthur from A&M Equestrian in AZ, offered both Riley and I, a place to stay while we were there.

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It was a privilege to work with such beautiful Arabians and ex-racehorses, and getting to try Western riding for the first time. After discovering a love for it – I’m now determined to invest in a western saddle myself at some point! Arthur and Catie, the owners of Arabians and More, are both exceptional horse people and were so generous with their time and knowledge during my stay. Their thoughtfulness, care, and consideration for the animals they have and train is expressed greatly in the horses personalities.

The establishment caters for lessons, training, and boarding. Catie and Arthur do a terrific job retiring and re-training racehorses, supporting them, and giving them the best start in their new careers and homes off the track. Catie has also recently competed in the Thoroughbred Makeover at the Kentucky Horse Park on her chestnut gelding Samendra, known as Hero. I had the privilege of getting to ride Hero while I was there (see photos below!). Incredibly, he had won over $153,000 in his time on the track, with his pedigree even including the well known racehorse – Secretariat! As a testament to the kind and brilliant training he’s received, and his lovely personality, he’s now turning his hoof to being a lesson horse to kids of all ages.

As well as re-affirming my love for Thoroughbreds, being at Arabians and More allowed me to fulfill my childhood ache for all things Arabian. I’ve had a love for this desert breed ever since I was a little girl, and getting to ride and work with them in America was incredible.

I rode a couple of fabulous Arabians while I was there, a grey gelding named Luke, in particular, made me realise just how agile this breed is. For the non-horsey folk out there, riding an Arabian is like driving a Lamborghini. They make for a sensitive and exciting ride, and with their level of intelligence, they’re incredibly fun to interact with. Luke gave me a fantastic core workout in our little sessions together!

Sunset shots of me during an evening ride with Luke.

The other place we stayed at was on Crazy Horse Ranch in Morongo Valley, California. This was with a lady named Jacklyn who ran the place herself, and hosts volunteers on a regular basis to help her around the ranch.

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We cared for a mixture of animals during our stay there, from horses, dogs, and rescued cats, to goats and chickens. It was an excellent base for Riley and I to visit the nearby Joshua Tree National Park, and see Los Angeles after our morning duties, and we had a lot of fun working together on various ranch tasks.

Riley even came out with us on a trail ride, and had his first canter on horseback! Total natural by the way.

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Our trip to the US was a memorable one, and I’m excited to go back in the future to experience more of their equestrian culture. Wyoming, Montana, and Texas are high on the list and I’m keen to try cutting and barrel racing! And to those who are interested in trying something new, broadening their skills, and immersing themselves in a slightly different way of life – I would highly encourage a working holiday or volunteering abroad. Most places you’ll find will be willing to offer accommodation, and even some food during your stay whilst you work or care for their animals/children – meaning the trip doesn’t have to cost you a fortune, but can still benefit you hugely when it comes to experience.

Photo credit to my lovely other half, Riley!

Volunteering in the USA Volunteer work is one of the best ways to further any skill, and is an excellent form of continual professional development.

[ahighlandfling]

5 Tips to Help Deal with the Post Travel Blues

5 Tips to Help Deal with the Post Travel Blues

It gets us all at some point. You land back in your home country, and the reality hits that the amazing trip you’d been planning for weeks is now all over.

It really sucks, but the good news is – there are ways you can make yourself feel better, and I’m here to pass on a few tips to get you over those post travel blues!

1. Start planning your next trip 

I often try to have my next trip away lined…

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Keeping with the recent cat theme – I can’t believe it’s taken me so long to write about this little gem that we visited last year on a trip to Prague. It was our last day in the city, and we were looking for somewhere to go before heading to the airport that afternoon. That’s when I stumbled across several of these cafes, where the main attraction is – their friendly cats. By chance, we decided to go for the Cat Cafe Prague (you can find their website and address here), as it was the nearest cafe for us to head on to the airport after.

We couldn’t have been more excited (Riley especially, being a cat person) and were welcomed by a gentleman at the door who safely stored our suitcases for us, and explained some general house rules. We then took off our shoes, and were provided with comfortable slippers to enter the cat area of the cafe.

The best thing about this cafe (besides the cats of course) was the system of paying a very low entry fee of 120 CZK (that’s less than £5!) to spend an hour with the cats, but all food and drink was free and you could help yourself to a range of cakes, cookies, savoury snacks, tea, coffee and soft drink. If you went over your time of an hour, it was 1 CZK per minute after, but if you set a little timer when you go in, this won’t become an issue.

The cafe is open daily from 10am until 8pm, and also has a wealth of board games, and an Xbox Kinect to play while you’re there (but the cats are sure to keep you more than occupied). It first opened in 2015, and staff are very helpful, speaking both English and Czech.

The cats themselves were very friendly, climbing into your lap, and being keen to play and engage with you, which we all know can be a rare occurrence when it comes to felines! A highlight was the mouse game displayed on the tv screen in the main sitting area, which had the cats (one very determined one in particular) sitting in front of the screen for ages, trying to grab the mouse as it ran past.

We thoroughly enjoyed our little morning in one of Prague’s delightful cat cafes, and definitely could have stayed there all day if we had the time! It’s super relaxed, cosy atmosphere will have you feeling right at home, and the cat time you get is very uplifting. All in all – a great way to spend time chilling out before our flight!

Cat Cafe Prague Keeping with the recent cat theme - I can't believe it's taken me so long to write about this little gem that we visited last year on a trip to Prague.

[ahighlandfling]

Loch Leven Castle is steeped in tragic history, namely surrounding that of Mary, Queen of Scots. The Scottish monarch spent a year of her life imprisoned there in 1567, before being forced to abdicate and escaping the island on which the castle still stands. The King, Robert the Bruce, is also known to have visited the castle earlier than this, in the 14th century. Subject to many invasions by the English, Loch Leven Castle has withstood a tremendous amount over the years, and its walls have seen many dark and unforgiving things.

By the 18th century, the castle had fallen mostly to ruins, after changing hands many times over hundreds of years. It is now managed by Historic Environment Scotland, and can be visited by the public by a small boat that ferries people over.

We headed up to Kinross on a grey afternoon to see the loch and the castle. At the visitor centre, tickets cost £9 per adult and £5.40 per child, and the attraction is open from 26 March 2019 to 31 October 2019 (though this is weather dependent each year). Whilst we waited for our boat, we decided to head into the cafe on site for a light lunch. I am as honest as I can be when writing reviews, so I’m going to have to say, personally, I would avoid the cafe and bring your own lunch when visiting. The food wasn’t great, and was on the expensive side for what you got. Service also took an incredibly long time so Riley ended up having to run round and ask at the information desk if we could get a later boat time – that’s when they got us on the last boat of the day, thankfully!

With our unfortunate cafe experience over, we headed out to the boat and boarded on. We were told it could be a wet ride, and life jackets were available but optional. It was a wet ride indeed, rather like being on a white water raft ride at Alton Towers, and I found myself clutching rather tightly onto Riley the whole way whilst trying to take some snaps without losing my phone! A short ride across the loch, and we arrived at the island, our captain informing us he would be back in 45 minutes to pick us up again.

We had a fabulous time on the island, there was just enough to see in the time we were given, and the sun broke through just as we docked.

There are noticeboards around providing you with all the information you need, and you can explore not only the castle grounds but up into the tower where Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned. Shortly after arriving at the castle to begin her sentence, Mary fell ill due to suspected poisoning, and sadly miscarried the twins she was carrying, who were apparently buried in the grounds. It was only a few days after that tragic ordeal, that Mary was forced to abdicate as the Queen of Scots.

After exploring the castle grounds, our boat came back to collect us, and even took us on a slight detour to get a closer look at some swans and herons swimming around the island. The American tourists who were with us on the boat greatly appreciated this for the opportunity to take some holiday snaps of the local wildlife. We made it back to the mainland just as the weather started to turn again, satisfied with our little trip to Kinross to see one of Scotland’s most famous castles – we’d been meaning to visit for a long time!

If you’d like to find out more about Mary Queen of Scots, history fan or not, I’d highly recommend this insanely good podcast called Half-Arsed History – and not just because my other half, Riley, makes it. If you’d like the link to the specific episode about Mary Queen of Scots, you can find that here!

  Loch Leven Castle Loch Leven Castle is steeped in tragic history, namely surrounding that of Mary, Queen of Scots. The Scottish monarch spent a year of her life imprisoned there in 1567, before being forced to abdicate and escaping the island on which the castle still stands.

[ahighlandfling]

Riley and I recently took a trip to Glasgow’s first, and so far only, cat cafe. Located in Trongate, The Purrple Cat Cafe opened its doors in 2017, and is now home to nearly 30 felines of all shapes and sizes, including some rather cute kittens.

This is Riley and I’s second visit to a cat cafe, our first experience being at a cat cafe in Prague (post on this coming soon!), so we were keen to visit the one located in our home city. I booked the session online (they come in one hour slots but you can double book slots if you’d like to spend longer with the cats. There is a £5 per person welfare charge when booking online, and £7 for a walk in on the day. The welfare charge goes towards the upkeep of the cats, for things like food, vet bills, toys, etc, and if you’d like food or drink in the cafe, this is paid for separately.

There is a good selection of cakes/drinks to enjoy while you’re there (these cost extra remember), and you’re provided with covers/containers for food to prevent it being stolen by the residents if you end up distracted from eating! This was very handy when a couple of the kittens decided to start a play fight at the door and I just had to go and spectate.

Most of the cats there are rescues, and now have a forever home at the Purrple Cat Cafe where all their needs are catered for. The best time to visit the cats is for their 9:30am session, so that’s the slot we went for. This is because it’s the first session of the day so once the cats finish their breakfast it’s play time! If you’d rather enjoy the cats at a quieter time, then they usually nap in the evenings or around lunchtime. We were very fortunate to have the whole place to ourselves for the duration of our time there.

Some of the cats are a bit friendlier than others, it’s important to remember that most of them are rescues, and they are cats after all so you’ll have to be patient if you’d like to interact with one. You’re not allowed to pick up a cat unless an employee asks you to, and strictly no waking sleeping cats.

The place is wheelchair accessible and also has both vegan and vegetarian options on the menu. Children are allowed to visit (a small number per session) and there are rules regarding this, so you must state how many are coming when booking. You can check out the Purrple Cat Cafe’s FAQ’s by following this link here.

Overall we had a lovely morning out visiting the resident cats, and enjoying the delicious cake on offer there. We would definitely recommend a trip here if you fancy something a little bit different to do in Glasgow!

If you’d like to book a session or find out more about the Purrple Cat Cafe, you can visit their website here, or check out their Facebook page at facebook.com/PurrpleCatCafe/.

  Cats and Cake in Glasgow Riley and I recently took a trip to Glasgow's first, and so far only, cat cafe. Located in Trongate, The Purrple Cat Cafe opened its doors in 2017, and is now home to nearly 30 felines of all shapes and sizes, including some rather cute kittens.