A toy reindeer’s hunt for festive fun takes centre stage alongside the Cairngorms in a heart-warming spoof of one of the UK’s most feel-good television ads.
The film, launched today by VisitCairngorms, parodies Thomson’s ‘Miles the Bear’ TV adverts, where a one-eyed teddy bear rediscovers his missing smile in Jamaica.
The new 90 second film features a down-trodden toy reindeer who finds his festive grin in the Cairngorms National Park where he goes mountain biking, travels on the mountain railway, experiences real snow and meets his own kind in the form of the Cairngorm reindeer herd.
He even meets Santa, who presents him with a girlfriend for Christmas.
The reindeer starts off at home – noticeably smileless – having yoghurt spilled on his antlers, being dragged upstairs upside down, put through the washing machine, hung outside to dry and being attacked by the family dog.
Kevin Roach, chairman of VisitCairngorms, said: “We wanted to show that you don’t have to take the family all the way to Jamaica to escape a drab and dreary life and discover your smile.
“Experiencing the Cairngorms National Park will bring out the smile in the whole family, particularly at this time of year with so much festive spirit about.”
Locations used for filming the clip included the Cairngorm reindeers at Glenmore, the mountain railway, Balmoral Castle, and Loch Morlich.
Mr Roach added: “Our reindeer has so much more fun than Miles the Bear – who spends much of his holiday on a sun lounger.
“Like other visitors to the park, he gets the opportunity to skate, visit real reindeer on the mountainside, see Balmoral where the Queen holidays, go mountain biking in Glenlivet and drink hot chocolate in the snow.
“Miles may have been able to work on his tan, but we bet that even his smile will droop a little when he realises that our reindeer came face to face with Santa in a real life winter wonderland right here in the UK.
“Don’t be too down in the mouth though, Miles – we’d be delighted to have you visit the Cairngorms National Park at any time to enjoy a fun adventure with your family.”