Pitlochry

We set off for the train station about 9am. Plenty of time for the 10:30 departure. Funny how, now matter how much time you have before departure, it's always a last minute flurry and items are checked while on the bus - a bit late then!

It was almost a two hour train trip. Archie got slightly bored, though he was very good. There was plenty of room, so he was sitting up on a seat. He did perk up when the man opposite crunched into an apple... Archie LOVES apples. I asked if he could pass his apple core over (to the dog!) when finished. Archie did not avert his gaze for the whole of the apple munching.

We arrived in Pitlochry in bright sunshine. We all enjoyed a walk round by the river. Especially Archie, who met a couple of pals - Hamish and Jock, a Westie and a Scottie - classic combination - and we walked along with them (and their mum). I did try to get a photo of the three of them sitting together. Like herding cats!

We walked across the dam and looked at the salmon ladder (5400 salmon use it every year), and walked back along the river to our abode for the evening - the pub by the river. What an ideal spot! And not just dog friendly - they LOVE dogs and don't charge extra.

We had a beer and some nibbles, then checked in, deposited our bags, and walked back into town. Archie and I sat on a bench and watched the world go by ( lots of folk stopped to chat and pat him) while JR mooched round the shops, and came back with a couple of bargains. And an ice cream.

Another evening walk back over the dam, popping up to Castle Fonab, the five star hotel we stayed in around this time last year. After a chat to some American visitors, and no waiter coming out to sell us some overpriced prosecco, we wandered back along to our pub for a wine by the river, looking out for leaping salmon. We did see some!

JR and Archie went for a further walk - he charged backwards and forwards on the wobbly bridge, and he's now flat out on his mat, (EDIT: his mat on the bed) sleeping. JR and I are enjoying our rather luxurious room complete with fluffy bathrobes. And at least 50 half decent DVDs to choose from.

This is the life!