I’ll never forget the drive up to Aviemore – or rather, the cheeky detour that nearly turned our family holiday into a comedy of errors. We’d piled into the car from Edinburgh, kids buzzing with excitement about Highland adventures, me navigating via a dodgy phone signal that kept rerouting us through every sheep-dotted backroad between here and there. Then, just as we neared Grantown-on-Spey, the heavens opened, and we hit a massive pothole that sent our picnic hamper flying – sandwiches everywhere, elder daughter wailing about her soggy crisps. “Mum, this is NOT the glamorous getaway I signed up for!” she huffed. I couldn’t help but laugh; here we were, arriving like a pack of drowned rats, anticipation bubbling despite the chaos.

Pulling up off the high street, we nearly missed the entrance – tucked sneakily behind the butcher’s and bakery, like it was playing hide-and-seek. Hearts racing from the downpour dash, we bundled in, shaking off rain like excited puppies. First impressions? Bloody brilliant, actually. This fabulous apartment spans the first and second floors, and stepping inside felt like stumbling into a warm Highland hug. The living spaces on the first floor welcomed us with open arms – plush sofas begging for a collapse, a massive telly for evening chill-outs amid tasteful décor that screamed cosy without trying too hard. The kitchen was a self-catering dream: gleaming with all the kit you’d need for the other half to whip up a proper Sunday roast, while I (the designated tea-maker) faffed about finding the mugs.

We claimed the formal dining room for our first feast – a slapdash pile of takeaways from a local chippy, devoured before diving into a raucous board game session that had everyone in stitches. Laughter echoed as my other half trounced us at Cluedo, and I caught myself reflecting: isn’t this the magic of these trips? Not the glossy Instagram moments, but the messy joy of togetherness, far from the daily grind. A quick freshen-up in the spacious shower room downstairs sorted the last of the road grime, its walk-in setup surprisingly luxe after our bedraggled arrival.

Upstairs on the second floor, the sleek shower room promised lazy bubble baths for later – perfect unwind after plotting tomorrow’s Cairngorms jaunts. Aviemore’s right on our doorstep, so we’re geared up for Rothiemurchus estate walks, maybe a splash at the leisure centre pool, or just pottering around town’s high street for coffee and Highland fudge. That pothole palaver? Already a hilarious anecdote. First nights here have me grinning – who knew a bit of arrival mayhem could make the good bits shine even brighter? Can’t wait to wake to those mountain views.