I think often of the sorrow of leaving a place I love, whether I have just grown to feel so, or been in its presence for years of my life. In many ways, every place I've lived is inside who I am, and I carry that with me. And also, every place I've visited feels that way, too. When I don't expect, in the middle of a work meeting, one single impression will be in my mind as if I'm there: the evening light, the glow after the early sunset in Scotland.
![20191124_155717-_Z7A9513 20191124_155717-_Z7A9513](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/05825cc7d2317342550ad7bba650be45/20191124_155717-_Z7A9513-900x900.jpg)
It is rare to see the orb sink itself, with fog and haar so prevalent, but the clouds lit from below, the world for a moment blue, even brighter than when sun was high.
![20191125_091845-_Z7A9562 20191125_091845-_Z7A9562](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/1a448d9550a4d7359587927986a0e197/20191125_091845-_Z7A9562-900x900.jpg)
Leaving Alladale's bounty, full of integrity for each species of the land, held a twinge of sorrow. But arriving at our next destination, Killiehuntly, was equally as full of potential and joy. I think this is what magnetizes me to travel: the opening to a new way or piece of beauty in the world with any movement.
![20191124_154959-_Z7A9501 20191124_154959-_Z7A9501](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/e39abd6d27a5267e28cbc907715aeac4/20191124_154959-_Z7A9501-900x900.jpg)
![20191124_155336-_Z7A9505 20191124_155336-_Z7A9505](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/74d8ad9d8d93467f9382e57cdd3aa7f7/20191124_155336-_Z7A9505-900x900.jpg)
![20191124_155812-_Z7A9515 20191124_155812-_Z7A9515](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/ee7a30e61e8c75dc93e057f595949e2c/20191124_155812-_Z7A9515-900x900.jpg)
And even before we arrived, on the quiet, one-lane Scottish way leading up to the next estate, Killiehuntly,
![20191124_144150-_Z7A9463 20191124_144150-_Z7A9463](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/f8f77138d4e419ba9717ef3913a6a4bc/20191124_144150-_Z7A9463-900x900.jpg)
we spotted a true bit o' Scotland. After stopping for lunch at a large sporting estate, Rothiemurchus (with clay pigeon shooting, riding, archery, and as we discovered, delicious cullen skink (smoked haddock) soup at the cafe, Druie), just a mile or so from arrival, we spotted an old barracks, crowning the mountain. Metaphor chosen intentionally as they were built for the British to monitor the Jacobean uprisings in the 1700s.
![20191124_144019-_Z7A9461 20191124_144019-_Z7A9461](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/86165e7ba83ffa443e2160c4bbbbbdbe/20191124_144019-_Z7A9461-900x900.jpg)
Yes, this place was just sitting up on a hill by its lonesome.
![20191124_144001-_Z7A9459 20191124_144001-_Z7A9459](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/74998eb54dfcb77bec541f304bc47b5c/20191124_144001-_Z7A9459-900x900.jpg)
We walked around, with just a few others, the Ruthven Barracks. It amazes me that these structures, older than the United States, remain with such rectitude still.
![20191124_144540-_Z7A9475 20191124_144540-_Z7A9475](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/e2d8a81be189ccaf0de9d5856224c4b7/20191124_144540-_Z7A9475-900x900.jpg)
![20191124_144246-_Z7A9465 20191124_144246-_Z7A9465](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/55a17239575027f4cb32b023a9fc206e/20191124_144246-_Z7A9465-900x900.jpg)
When we arrived at Killiehuntly, the farmhouse on a large estate doing serious environmental work, we also arrived at the most meticulously designed huddle of buildings, absolutely spotless.
![20191125_091903-_Z7A9563 20191125_091903-_Z7A9563](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/fee596fc3ce4016dd5208931d4a51453/20191125_091903-_Z7A9563-900x900.jpg)
From our first moments checking in, through to gorgeous, vibrant meals, to the yurt sauna and fire pit chats in the evening, Killiehuntly's hospitality and welcome astonished us.
![20191124_154201-_D5A9576 20191124_154201-_D5A9576](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/c150329151328723c9a914f44a8ba0f2/20191124_154201-_D5A9576-900x900.jpg)
![20191126_144937-_Z7A9771 20191126_144937-_Z7A9771](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/35fe96adef2339d4abb4923c590459a5/20191126_144937-_Z7A9771-900x900.jpg)
![20191125_101413-_D5A9587 20191125_101413-_D5A9587](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/df97d5fed1e9762964d36d82bf3055f7/20191125_101413-_D5A9587-900x900.jpg)
This was the walk from our wee apartment in the hay loft, to breakfast in the main farmhouse.
![20191125_151536-_D5A9672 20191125_151536-_D5A9672](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/de93dc5f1c7ab5025df79ea709d41477/20191125_151536-_D5A9672-900x900.jpg)
![20191125_095610-_Z7A9568 20191125_095610-_Z7A9568](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/a0aa20c6ae141f8621e70868845e1b6f/20191125_095610-_Z7A9568-900x900.jpg)
We stayed in the Hayloft, a separate suite with kitchenette, away from the main house, and loved it to the core. The dark green paint! The Scandinavian furniture! The Japanese towels!
![20191124_164539-_Z7A9538 20191124_164539-_Z7A9538](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/520878f47ff6aa62c2be7655604e69ff/20191124_164539-_Z7A9538-900x900.jpg)
![20191124_162737-_Z7A9529 20191124_162737-_Z7A9529](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/3e794eebe51ed551eb4ee19b1d51f244/20191124_162737-_Z7A9529-900x900.jpg)
I was literally ooing the enter time. The care the staff put into the place was so felt, and we learned how the staff refreshes everything yearly. It felt both stable and old, and brand new at once--in all the best ways. I sat with candles lit each morning and night feeling the quiet to my core.
![20191124_153948-_Z7A9491 20191124_153948-_Z7A9491](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/006c26bfdbec6c9a2b4453c7bad780b8/20191124_153948-_Z7A9491-900x900.jpg)
I'll share a bit more about our hikes and intro to the landscape in the next post, but we did manage a few unguided jaunts around the property, just walkable right from the Hayloft (which itself was only a 2 minute walk to the main house).
![20191126_085917-_Z7A9649 20191126_085917-_Z7A9649](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/d8ec3f2a45c5167aceccd82ee6cb5325/20191126_085917-_Z7A9649-900x900.jpg)
![20191125_162738-_Z7A9648 20191125_162738-_Z7A9648](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/784562f5ed00b0cc6723d85b74e35304/20191125_162738-_Z7A9648-900x900.jpg)
The farm adjoins some national forest being managed by Scotland, and our afternoon walk was dark in the presence of these pines.
![20191125_161742-_Z7A9645 20191125_161742-_Z7A9645](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/2cce05b7dbc5831f34f1d793f581160a/20191125_161742-_Z7A9645-900x900.jpg)
![20191125_161607-_Z7A9644 20191125_161607-_Z7A9644](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/2dadcb64a1e995792c1d00aa784f874e/20191125_161607-_Z7A9644-900x900.jpg)
In fact, when Walker took these via tripod, I could barely see the road with my normal old eyes. But look how stunning the colors.
![20191125_160544-_Z7A9641 20191125_160544-_Z7A9641](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/a80cec924e8e743a9b97f3ff592f75ac/20191125_160544-_Z7A9641-900x900.jpg)
![20191125_160240-_Z7A9639 20191125_160240-_Z7A9639](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/0af06bb2b4f8b7f7a978c758fdacd230/20191125_160240-_Z7A9639-900x900.jpg)
Per usual, the damp in the air turned to the finest of rain.
![20191125_155103-_Z7A9633 20191125_155103-_Z7A9633](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/e761f33cad73912719e1170e8c7b4cc3/20191125_155103-_Z7A9633-900x900.jpg)
![20191124_163316-_Z7A9533 20191124_163316-_Z7A9533](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/3386bda3bd41728a7e64b6665e94ee89/20191124_163316-_Z7A9533-900x900.jpg)
In the evenings, we headed for delicious 3-course meals at the farmhouse, shared with other guests. We loved the dinner conversation and meeting some new pals. And the dijon potatoes I had one night stand out as the best single bite I ate in Scotland.
![20191124_161729-_Z7A9522 20191124_161729-_Z7A9522](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/a85685a97a5673464b67a242a67704a3/20191124_161729-_Z7A9522-900x900.jpg)
![20191124_161546-_Z7A9520 20191124_161546-_Z7A9520](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/60dcb0f6abd043632817c7a66c7e9920/20191124_161546-_Z7A9520-900x900.jpg)
We sat by the fireplace or walked 50 meters to the fire pit in the evenings,
![20191126_095411-_Z7A9655 20191126_095411-_Z7A9655](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/c4912b3902824cefac214e64c3f740d8/20191126_095411-_Z7A9655-900x900.jpg)
![20191126_095513-_Z7A9657 20191126_095513-_Z7A9657](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/7b3ee9495f88f3b059260305881efe36/20191126_095513-_Z7A9657-900x900.jpg)
![20191126_100238-_Z7A9661 20191126_100238-_Z7A9661](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/52b77c61ec20bffbe1c49554b46551a7/20191126_100238-_Z7A9661-900x900.jpg)
and in the morning, returned for breakfast, multiple courses of local cheese, fruits, yoghurts, and eggs.
![20191126_095539-_Z7A9658 20191126_095539-_Z7A9658](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/ad4f14d79b83e21c0a133ee999237396/20191126_095539-_Z7A9658-900x900.jpg)
Everything was spotless, delicious, and fresh, even as the November breezes were calming the land for winter.
![20191126_095619-_Z7A9659 20191126_095619-_Z7A9659](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/e270ff2dc04ccc1ea3b71f67ab4305dd/20191126_095619-_Z7A9659-900x900.jpg)
![20191126_095705-_Z7A9660 20191126_095705-_Z7A9660](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/48ddfca20b53a1a537dffbe3878f3f87/20191126_095705-_Z7A9660-900x900.jpg)
Sometimes I do not even close my eyes, and 3 months later, can see the light just bursting out of the stone farmhouse's windows in the early evening, or the morning glow illuminating every piece of golden hay. The light in Scotland will always be unrivaled, and coming out of Killiehuntly's heavenly orbit,
![20191126_090128-_Z7A9653 20191126_090128-_Z7A9653](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/7ba6d49fde335d6fc16b512a0c2fc343/20191126_090128-_Z7A9653-900x900.jpg)
perfection.
![20191125_101022-_Z7A9574 20191125_101022-_Z7A9574](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/31c51f7245325655f25214dc28902e3d/20191125_101022-_Z7A9574-900x900.jpg)