We stayed at the Inn at Loch Ericht - 10 minutes walk from the station. After three days roughing it, what a delight to have two nights of hotel luxury! Mid-week in mid-March, we were in room 1, because we were the only guests. It seemed strange to have a whole hotel running just for us. In fact, the hotel was doing a good trade in lunches, and rightly so - the food was very good and freshly made. We particularly recommend the soups and the paté, all home made. Full breakfast included 2 sausage, 2 bacon, 2 eggs, black pudding, fried bread, mushroom and tomato - and vanished surprisingly fast!

The Inn doesn't have a web site, but takes telephone bookings on 01528 - 522257. I don't know if the prices varies during the year - we paid £77 a night, for two people, dinner bed & breakfast.

Dalwhinnie is famous for being the highest village in Scotland - and the coldest, at an average temperature of just 6°C. But it's more famous for the distillery. £4 will buy you a tour of the distillery, including a dram and a £3 voucher off a bottle of whisky. And what a good selection they have! Not just the standard 15 year old Dalwhinnie, but also a version that has been finished in Oloroso casks (it's usually matured in Bourbon casks). I recommend it - better body than the standard offering, but that's a personal taste. There are the standards you'd expect from United Distillers. But there are plenty of special offerings - eg 30yo Brora, 24yo Port Ellen. I came away with the Oloroso Dalwhinnie, and an 18 year old Caol Ila.

Then back to the hotel, for an afternoon relaxing in the residents lounge with a glass of the local produce, watching the snow swirling around outside. Another relaxing night, then the 10:30 train back to Stirling, then to Edinburgh and London.

A real break.