ONE thing we can always rely on in Scotland is that we are NEVER able to rely on our weather.
Doesn’t matter if it’s March or the middle of summer, you must remember shades and sun cream as well as thermals and waterproofs.
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But none of that matters at Rosneath Castle Park because, come rain or shine, there’s tons to do.
The pretty caravan site is perched right on the edge of Gare Loch in Argyll. You can stand on the shore at Helensburgh and feel like you could reach out and touch the vans lined along the water.
But it’s a stunning 30-minute drive as you must travel all the way round the loch to get there.
We had one of the beautiful loch-view vans, with three bedrooms, a spacious living room and kitchen and two bathrooms — loads of room for a family break.
They have everything you need too, including comfy bedding and a telly to keep you entertained.
Ideal for us as, when we arrived, the hail was battering down — lovely spring weather. When we woke the next morning, though, the sun was splitting the skies so, after a caravan brekkie, we headed out to explore.
First stop was the site’s playpark. And this one gets a gold star rating, according to my four-year-old Jimmy. It had the best views of any park we’ve visited, right across the water, with loads of fun and unusual things to climb and explore.
Next we ventured to the south east of the vast site, where we’d been told of an excellent forest walk. This was the highlight of the whole trip.
Head through a gate and you’re in a fairytale woodland with trees on both sides, soft moss underfoot and dapples of sunlight dotting through the canopy.
On our walk, my husband Ryan found the perfect spot for a picnic — a tiny, secluded beach we had entirely to ourselves. Lots of these little bays are dotted along the loch and you feel miles away from anyone when, in fact, the caravan park is just a few minutes’ walk away.
We happily ate sarnies, perfected our stone skimming and explored rock pools for a couple of hours before heading back to base.
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That night we gave cooking a miss and headed for the site restaurant, a spacious, family-friendly eatery with an impressive menu.
Ryan’s steak pie was packed with flavour while my Balmoral chicken was extremely tasty, smothered in a peppery sauce. And Jimmy’s burger followed by jelly was devoured happily.
After a 30-second toddle back to the van, we turned in for the night and woke to a more traditional Scots spring downpour.
But no matter, we bundled into the car and headed to Helensburgh for a swim in the local leisure centre.
Opened two years ago, it’s the ideal place for a family dip with a spacious kids pool, spotless facilities and a sauna and steam room, where my husband and I took turns chilling while the other played sharks with our son.
Back at the park, we headed for FunZone, where activities are held during the hols and there’s loads of games to keep youngsters entertained.
And, while the rain was still hammering, we tried the on-site soft play. It kept Jimmy entertained for a good hour — and wiped him out enough to sleep soundly after pizzas back at the van.
GO: ROSNEATH
SEVEN nights in a Gareloch two-bedroom van, which sleeps six, is from £852
Meanwhile, four nights in a Loch View two-bedroom van, which also sleeps six, is from £500.
More at rosneathcastle.co.uk.
We headed home the next morning but not before a jaunt to Helensburgh’s Hill House — the fabulous Charles Rennie Mackintosh property that’s been encased in a giant box to preserve it for future generations.
Read more on the Scottish Sun
It was fascinating to tread the walkway surrounding the home and we had a spectacular lunch in the cafe, where I had the best empire biscuit I’ve ever tasted.
It can be hard to plan a holiday in Scotland any time of year, when it could be blowing a gale or enjoying blistering sunshine, but at Rosneath Castle Park the one thing that’s guaranteed is a great time.
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