I’ll never forget the drive up to Inverness – a proper Highland road trip that started so promisingly with bagpipes blaring from the car stereo and the kids in the back singing along to some daft folk tunes. But then, about an hour out, disaster struck: a rogue sheep decided to photobomb the A9, causing a full-on traffic jam. We sat there for what felt like ages, engines idling, me frantically checking the sat-nav while my other half cracked jokes about becoming honorary shepherds. By the time we rolled into town, we were knackered but buzzing with that pre-holiday anticipation, wondering what gems awaited.

Pulling up to the duplex apartment right by the River Ness was pure magic – first impressions? Spot on. Roadside parking was a godsend after the sheep saga, and stepping into this single-storey haven felt like slipping into a warm hug. Three cosy bedrooms greeted us straight away: a double with its own en-suite (walk-in shower, basin, loo – perfect for stealthy middle-of-the-night wees), another double, and a twin for the kids. Everything tastefully done, serene vibes all round. There’s even a proper bathroom with a bath for those long soaks. It’s the sort of place that screams “slow down, you lot.”

And slow down we did. This holiday was all about doing sod all – gloriously, unapologetically. Forget ticking off castles or hiking Loch Ness (though we could’ve, it’s close enough); we embraced the joy of lazy cottage days. Mornings kicked off with brekkie on the go – porridge and strong tea – then straight out to the garden. It overlooks the tranquil river, where the water gurgles past like it’s got nowhere urgent to be. I’d plonk myself in a chair with a dog-eared paperback (some crime thriller I’d been meaning to crack for months), feet up, listening to the birds and the occasional distant bagpipe busker from town. The kids would mooch about, skipping stones or just staring into the water, while we grown-ups pretended to read but mostly dozed.

Afternoons blurred into the same blissful rhythm: a potter to the nearby Leakey’s bookshop in Inverness for a fresh read (that musty smell is heaven), back for cheese toasties and more garden lounging. One day, I caught myself just watching a heron fish – mesmerised for a solid half-hour. No rush, no schedules. Evenings were cuppa in hand, watching the light fade over the Ness, maybe a cheeky board game that descended into giggles.

Looking back, it was a gentle nudge from the universe: I’m always rushing about at home, checklist in hand. Here, by the river, I reflected on how brilliant it is to just *be*. No grand adventures needed – the real magic was in the slowing down, the nothing-much-at-all that recharged us proper. If you’re after a Highland escape that’s more hygge than hike, this is your spot. We left feeling lighter, already plotting a return.