Abhairnn Ruigh-eunuchan as it enters Loch Morlich

A gentle stroll around Loch Morlich this morning in the sunshine giving superb views of mountain scenery and forest. The loch also has a lovely beach and is a popular spot for water sports. This area would repay much further investigation on another visit.

We repaired to Cobb's cafe at Glen More visitors centre for lunch whereby the heavens opened for an hour or so while we were snug inside.

Back in Newtonmore we strolled down to the Highland Games in the village but did not enter as the field was a quagmire from all the rain. We could hear the various pipe bands warming up for the competition.

In between the continuing showers we visited the Highland Folk Museum which had an interesting collection of buildings and artefacts from hereabouts.

The highlight of the day was an evening meal on the Strathspey Railway's Strathspey Highlander Saturday evening dining train from Aviemore to Broomhill and back again on a lovely, but cold, sunny evening with the Spey Valley in the foreground and the Cairngorm Massif bathed in sunshine behind.

A four course dinner was fairly good, accommodation comfortable but owing to a fault on the loco, steam heating was not available so it was chilly inside which took the gloss off the experience as little.

As we were returning to Aviemore we passed The Royal Scottish train berthed overnight at the Boat of Garten station. A 4 night trip on this train would cost at least £4200 per person!

A pleasant arrival back in the beautiful station at Aviemore saw our dining train simmering gently in the evening twilight as we drove back to our hotel in Newtonmore and a final wee dram on our last night in the Highlands.