We’ve just returned from a brilliant family New Year ski trip to Morzine and Les Gets, celebrating the start of the year in the heart of the Portes du Soleil. This time, we weren’t just skiing with our grown-up children, their partners joined us too, making it a really special trip.  I felt very emotional and extremely blessed.

A New Year ski holiday is something I can wholeheartedly recommend. Getting away during the quieter days between Christmas and New Year felt like the perfect escape, with my favourite blue-sky days, stunning Alpine views and beautifully groomed pistes. While we didn’t have fresh snowfall, conditions were still excellent, although the temperatures were very cold at times!

We’ve been skiing in Morzine, Les Gets and Avoriaz for twenty years and this trip marked our first stay in Les Gets itself. It was an ideal base for exploring the Portes du Soleil and a reminder that staying warm and comfortable on the slopes is just as important as good snow.  My last ski trip was in April 2024 and that was the other extreme - very hot!  You can read my spring skiing tips here!
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In this post, I’m sharing highlights from our family ski trip, along with how I stayed warm and cosy on the mountain, including the winter essentials that made such a difference on those freezing New Year days and evenings.

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As we reached the final leg of our NC500 road trip, we were ready for a couple of slower-paced days to rest and recharge. Our base for this stretch was a cosy little Airbnb in Lochinver, where we finally had a chance to catch our breath and catch up on some much-needed washing! From there, we began the journey south, travelling via Ullapool and the stunning west coast to Loch Carron, before leaving the official NC500 route and heading towards Fort Augustus on Loch Ness. We were kindly invited to spend a couple of nights with Abbey Holidays Loch Ness, staying in one of their beautiful self-catering cottages within the historic Highland Club — the perfect place to round off our adventure.

After driving up the east coast of Scotland on the NC500, we arrived at Halkirk, a small village in Caithness and were welcomed at the Ulbster Arms Hotel for a 3-night stay so we could explore this far north east corner of the British Isles.  The Ulbster Arms is the ideal mid-way stop if you are driving the NC500, it is also a popular hotel for fishing breaks and it is family and dog-friendly too.  It is located on the River Thurso and our room had a really pretty view from it's corner vantage point overlooking the bridge and river below.

I originally planned to stay in this area for 2-nights but when I discovered the Castle of Mey did not open to the public until 1st May ... I adjusted my itinerary.  We were still unable to visit on a public opening day but I was able to book a private tour ... more on that further down!

The north-east corner of Caithness offers rugged coastal scenery, windswept moorlands, and charming Highland villages. From our base in Halkirk, we passed through the vibrant town of Wick, visited the iconic John O’Groats, the north eastern tip of mainland Britain, and nearby Dunnet Head, the true northernmost point, with its striking cliffs and lighthouse overlooking the Pentland Firth.  This region is wild, remote, and full of surprises and was a a great introduction to the raw beauty of the Highlands.

Arriving at Eagle Brae truly took our breath away, it’s absolutely incredible, and I’m not sure any words (or even photos!) can fully capture the magic of this unique lodge accommodation in the heart of the Scottish Highlands. I’ll be sharing some  (a lot) of my favourite photos throughout this post to give you a glimpse into just how special this place is but really you need to visit and see it in person, it's one of those must-go to locations!

Planning our Scottish road trip took hours of research - from figuring out the best NC500 route to choosing where to stay each night - so if you’re planning your own adventure, I hope my series of Scottish blog posts will help save you some time and inspire your itinerary.  It is a very real account of our trip with all the best tips to make it a bit easier!

We left our home near Marlow in Bucks and stayed overnight in the Lake District before heading north to Scotland, with Eagle Brae as our first destination on this epic 11-day road trip. Whether you’re looking to start your NC500 itinerary from a peaceful base or simply want to slow down and explore the Highlands, Eagle Brae is perfectly located near to Inverness. For us, it was the ideal two-night stay to relax, recharge, and ease into the journey ahead.