A Newcomer to the Highlands

I grew up in Hertfordshire before meeting my husband who is Inverness born and bred. It was a chance meeting while we were both visiting Newcastle and when he told me he was from Inverness - I had to look up where that was! I had only been to Scotland once before, to Edinburgh for a weekend, and had no idea what lay further north. The first time I came to visit him, the first place he took me was Dores beach to see Loch Ness. It was the most incredible place I had ever been; the hills towering over the water, which is almost purple from the peat washed into it, and the way it disappears into the distance even on a clear day. We climbed Meall Fuar-Mhonaidh (which I included in my journey stone) after the first COVID-19 lockdown ended in 2020 and seeing it from the beach is a reminder that there are always better days ahead.

I have been to many beautiful places in the Highlands since I moved here 6 years ago but Dores beach is still my go-to place when I am feeling stressed or overwhelmed and need to breathe. It represents all the reasons I chose to make my life here and I haven't doubted that decision for a second. We have recently had a daughter and we can't wait to take her there; the hills and lochs of the Highlands are an important part of her heritage and none are as amazing as Loch Ness from Dores.