Soothing Scottish Loch

There are few places in the world quite so serene as Loch Dormant. Its position is one of near perfect isolation. High up among the rolling seemingly endless moors. It's not one of the country's most well-known lochs. Its image does not grace shortbread boxes and no mythical beastie lurks in its depths. And yet it is a quiet and mysterious place. The loch, its island and the tall mountains which rise up on either side of it have a kind of magisterial stillness about them. The water is calm and therefore, its effect on the mind is calming too. From here in the lodge, we have a superb view out over the loch. And it's this view that we will be enjoying this evening. Before we begin, I think it's nice to start with a little wind-down. Tonight's exercise is a really simple breathing exercise. So when you're ready, let's begin. So first, get comfortable in your bed. Now just bringing the attention to the breath. Just noticing where you feel it. In the nose, the throat, the chest, the diaphragm. You're nice and relaxed. We're going to be taking a deep breath in for four, holding it for four and then breathing out for six. So are you ready? Let's begin. In for four, two, three, four. Hold it for four, two, three, four. Now breathing out for six. Two, three, four, five, six. In for four, two, three, four. Holding for four, two, three, four. Out for six, two, three, four, five, six. In for four. Two, three, four. Holding for four, two, three, four. Out for six, two, three, four, five, six. In for four. Two, three, four. Holding for four, two, three, four. Out for six, two, three, four, five, six. Great, now returning the breath to normal. Our lodge here was built long ago. The oldest sections, the kitchens and the great room, are more than 300 years old, in fact. But today it has all the trappings of comfortable highland living. Deep-buttoned wingbacked armchairs, a large stone fireplace fed in the winter months with fragrant fir wood. A red patterned Turkish carpet worn almost threadbare in places, particularly in front of the fire. Various paintings showing natural subjects, including stags. Well, rather a lot of them, actually. And many distinguished looking ladies and gentlemen in clothing from times gone by. There are also pictures of the landscape in its various seasons. Here, all covered in snow. Here, when the heather is in full bloom and the moorland is a purple blanket, gently stirring in the sun. Here, at night when the moon is doubled by its reflection in the water. The landscape around the loch is rugged without the croppings of granite that push through the peat. From the edge of the water to where the hillsides turn to scree the ground is covered with heather. Its colors reflect the season. A rich green in the rains of the autumn. Sometimes blanketed with...