My Uncle P, Auntie M, and cousins called in to check the arrangements for our family holiday in the far north. I was worried about the potential cost of lunch en route, especially if we broke the journey at the House of Bruar. Should I make sandwiches for us all?

P shook his head, telling me that we’d find a cheap café in a village off the A9. Tomintoul would be a good bet.

TPR and I set off 30 minutes later. Half an hour into the journey we realised that we were travelling without our bikes and I hadn’t packed any clothes for two weeks away from home.