My favourite is the eagle owl - absolutely beautiful. It's not cheap getting in to the castle so, unless you are into old buildings, make sure you time your visit to coincide with the falconry. The gardens were a bit of a disappointment with not much colour - I expected better at that time of year.
From Brora I headed up to John O' Groats and a pitch on my cousin's farm. Unlike Brora site she now has broadband and wifi so I can keep up to date when visiting. The downside is that I need to think of a new excuse to visit Flavours ice cream shop down at Groats (as the locals call it). Their ice cream is wonderful and the service is friendly. I wasn't so impressed with the Natural Retreats cafe at Groats - the wifi was down and the service a bit indifferent. I can also make better carrot cake myself! However it does offer nice views of Orkney.
I stayed at Brora again on the way home and again the weather was not really beach weather. Having done Dunrobin, there wasn't much else to do in the area. I'm not sure I'll go to Brora next year - the wardens are nice and so is the site but it's always full in summer and I felt a bit claustrophobic in the first pitch I chose - surrounded by a sea of caravans. Being woken up at 8.30am by the neighbour's telly did not help. (Note to caravanners with awnings - they are not soundproof.)
It was a long day towing home from Brora so, next year, I think I'll go back to using Culloden as a convenient stopover, despite its lack of wifi.
