I LOVE Scotland – I do. I can’t imagine ever living anywhere else in the world. Well maybe that place called Noiva do Cordeiro, in Brazil, that’s inhabited and governed almost entirely by women.

Sons are sent away at 18 and spouses are banned from the town except on weekends and when they are back home they have to follow the rules and guidelines that the women have created, from town planning to farming, religion and more. Sounds like heaven, eh?

Only joking, boys – sort of.

Anyway back to Scotland, our beautiful bonnie country with lush green landscapes and torrential rain all year round. Whenever I have time off I always try my best to get out and about to visit new places that I’ve never been to before because Scotland has just so much to offer.

One of the best decisions I ever made was to attempt to learn the beautiful Gaelic language.

After four years I am still very much a basic learner but the few words and phrases I do know have enabled me to work on a number of BBC ALBA productions.

It’s just been a dream come true as I’ve visited some of the most beautiful places on earth as a result.

One of these places is the Isle of Barra, in the Western Isles. I have been many times over the past few years and decided I would go again last weekend for the Barrathon, an annual half marathon event that takes place on the island.

Now before any of you think I’ve lost my mind or have a death wish I, of course, was merely attending as a spectator. I wasn’t donning leg warmers and retro Nike Air Max circa 1995, which are still in pristine condition I might add, and attempting to run myself.

It’s always a fantastic weekend and the organisers do such an incredible job of pulling it all together as runners travel from all four corners of the globe to take part.

My sister Maria and I were all set to go when disaster struck and ferry operator Calmac announced that the proposed industrial strike would go ahead meaning our Thursday ferry would no longer be sailing from Oban.

We were devastated as the trip had been planned for months but we decided to be as positive as possible and see where else on the mainland we could go to enjoy a couple of days away.

We knew it would be difficult as schools had finished for the summer holidays that same day and most places would be booked. However, thanks to a dear friend of mine. who recommended a lovely little hotel. we were booked and on our way to

Pitlochry.

I’d only been there once before when we were filming a piece on the Enchanted Forest for STV’s The Hour a few years previously, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect but it was more than I could ever have imagined.

We stayed at a place called The Old Mill Inn, and I can honestly say hand on heart that it was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had.

The room was just beautiful with a waterfall right outside our window. The staff were second to none and the food was just to die for.

The owner Fiona and all of her team couldn’t have done enough for us and the other guests.

We did so much sightseeing too including a trip to the historic Blair Atholl Castle which, back in 1745, was occupied twice by Prince Charles Edward Stuart and his Jacobite army which I loved considering my current Scottish history obsession thanks to the Outlander novels.

We also did a walk through a magnificent wooded gorge where the 1689 Battle of Killiecrankie was fought, however I was dressed in a leopard print dress, welly boots and a luminous waterproof jacket.

It wasn’t quite hiking material and at one stage I thought my sister would have to call for mountain rescue to get me back up the gorge.

Anyway I managed to get back without being airlifted and an hour later I was wearily thanking God for getting me out alive while struggling to pluck the twigs and other debris I’d picked up along the way from my curly pink hair.

It was truly a fantastic trip away and I couldn’t recommend it highly enough.

People always say they want to get out and see more of Scotland – well, what’s stopping you?

Make this the year you get in the car, book a train or catch a ferry to somewhere you’ve never been before.

I promise you won’t regret it and you will feel totally blessed that all of these breathtaking places are right here on your doorstep.