Caravan holidays in Scotland

Beautiful Spring flowers in the Culbin Forest

Yesterday was a nice still, warm day so we decided to take a bike ride down in to the Culbin Forest. This time however, we went out of the main entrance to Nairn Lochloy Holiday Park and cycled up the east side of the River Nairn. We were looking to see if we could see the male Goosander that had arrived the day before to join the female that has been on the river all Winter. He was there in all his splendour swimming in the water just next to the Mute Swan nest.

We headed up on to Lochloy Road which passes Nairn Dunbar Golf Course on the left. We normally come back this way so it was nice to be travelling in the opposite direction for a change. If you are travelling by car from the Holiday Park to the Culbin Forest car park at Wellhill this is the best way to go.

At the turning up to Brodie Countryfare we saw a male Marsh Harrier flying west. This is an unusual sighting for Northern Scotland!! There were also several House Martins checking what was left of their mud nests from last season on the cottage by the road turning. We watched them for a few minutes before carrying on and turning left down the road to Cloddymoss. What a great name!!

There is a small pond at Cloddymoss which is great for Toads in early Spring. Yesterday it was full of flowers - mainly Bluebells and Cowslips. The Cowslips were fantastic! Here we headed in to the Forest and the trees were alive with the sound of birds. They were mainly Willow Warblers, but there was also a Blackcap and a plucky Wren singing from the top of a dead twig! There were also lots of tiny flowers next to the track, mainly Violets and Wood Anemones.

We passed through the Wellhill car park and cycled on to see how the Scottish Crossbills were doing. Well good news - they must have fledged successfully beacause the nest was empty. Maybe they will try for a second brood a bit later in the season? We had our picnic in amongst the conifer trees and lichens and then cycled back through the forest. A very leisurely and enjoyable 20 mile trip.

Summer visitors are starting to arrive

Last Thursday and Friday the weather at Nairn Lochloy Holiday Park was absolutely fantastic and so for those on a caravan holiday in Scotland it was absolutely perfect. Caravan 109 was occupied again so if you want to ensure you manage to book it make sure you have a look at our bookings page

We took advantage of the weather and headed out for a couple of early morning walks from the caravan. On Thursday (2nd April) we walked east along Nairn beach and then headed over the dunes towards Ministers Pool. There were a few Redshanks feeding in the still water as well as a Heron and a few Mallard. The Reed Buntings and Yellowhammers were in full song as were the Skylarks riding high in the clear blue sky.

The new arrivals for the Summer were 2 Sand Martins, 2 Tree Pipits (all at Kingsteps) and 3 Chiffchaffs that we saw later when we went for another bike ride in the Culbin Forest. We took a picnic and cycled all the way to 'The Gut' which is an opening in the Culbin Forest that looks out over the tidal mudflats. There were some lovely Shelduck and a small flock of Knot. In the forest, the Scottish Crossbill was still on her nest and there were lots of Siskin, Treecreepers and Coal Tits.

On the Friday (3rd April) we had a quick walk on Nairn beach again and saw 2 Sandwich Terns. We then  took a trip to Lossiemouth where the weather was even warmer than on the Thursday. It is a beautiful coastal town with 2 beaches (East and West) and an esplanade by the harbour. A lovely wooden bridge spans the estuary and leads to a vast open beach which expends for miles and miles. The surf is supposed to be good here and there were plenty of surfers of all ages. As we sat having a coffee outisde La Caverna a single Swallow flew overhead. There was also a Lesser Black Backed Gull in amongst the large Gull flock.

Lossiemouth is well worth a trip if you are staying in Caravan 109 - take the signs at Forres that say 'Coastal Trail East'.

Buckie Loch bike ride

Our friends from Roy Bridge near Fort William, came and stayed overnight with us at Nairn Lochloy Holiday Park in the caravan. They brought their bikes with them, so we decided to head for Buckie Loch, a beautiful spot towards the far end of the Culbin Forest.

The weather was overcast and cool, but ideal for a long cycle ride. As usual we headed off through the East Beach car park and past the Minister's Pool. Once on the Forest tracks we stuck close to the shore stopping off at point 20 for a look out over the tidal mudflats. There are lots of posts sticking out of the mud which apparently were to stop enemy gliders from landing during the Second World War!

We then stopped again at point 18 and looked out over the mudflats. There was a nice flock of Shelduck as well as about 20 Ringed Plovers. Overhead a gaggle of Pink Footed Geese flew over, and the babbling of the Curlews was another sign that Spring is on the way.

The track moves inland a bit for the next few kilometeres and the forest becomes much more open with lots of older Caledonian Pines. The forest floor is a carpet of lichens which almost looks artificial. The air must be very pure!! There is also more birdlife with Coal Tits, Siskins and Goldcrests all calling. However the highlight of the day was to be the Scottish Crossbills that were giving us great views sitting in the tops of the Pines. The males looked magnificent with their reddy/orange plumage and huge bills. They were in full song. There was even a female Scottish Crossbill sitting on her nest. A first for all of us!!

We arrived at Buckie Loch just as the sun started to poke through. It is a truly beautiful spot with views out towards the Black Isle and beyond to the Dornoch Firth. A huge oil rig was moored near Cromarty at the north end of the Black Isle and no doubt waiting to be serviced at Invergordon. There was a small flock of Common Scoter on the sea with a larger flock of Red Breasted Merganser. There were also a few Eider and six Red Throated Divers! Further out there was a solitary Fulmar, a few early Gannets and lots of Guillemots. A lone Cormorant flew over as we sat down in a sheltered hollow behind the Gorse bushes for a splendid picnic.

Lunch over and we decided to head back to the caravan. We retraced our steps and got back just after 3.00pm. It is probably a 20 mile round trip but well worth it. Take plenty of water and a picnic!

Spring bike ride in the Culbin Forest

As suggested in yesterday's blog, we did manage to go on a wonderful bike ride from Caravan 109 in Lochloy Holiday Park, Nairn. The weather was sunny with clear blue skies and a gentle breeze (cold!!).

As usual we headed off to the east through the East beach car park, and then along the footpath that snakes around the edge of Nairn Dunbar Golf Course. There were a good number of keen golfers out there playing and taking advantage of the full greens and nice weather. On past Minister's pool and then up into the forest itself - the small track through the woods is great fun.

We stopped to look out over the mudflats and estuary and to see if there were any birds. There was the odd skein of geese - Pink Feet mainly and plenty of Skylarks calling overhead. We could hear the Curlews and Redshank calling in the distance but the tide was out so they were very distant.

We cycled as far as point 22 in the Culbin Forest but then turned back as it was still quite wet from last weeks rain. It is about a 6 mile round trip from the caravan. On the way back there were more encouraging signs of Spring with lots of the Gorse in full flower. In the afternoon we walked up in to Nairn and there were lots of crocuses, daffodils, Forsythia and Cherry in flower - Spring is definately on its way! We also saw the 2 resident Mute Swans getting their nest ready on the small island in the River Nairn. Last year they hatched their young on the 19th April - very early!! The female Goosander was also still on the river looking as good as ever.

A beautiful weekend in Nairn

This past weekend was a beautiful one in Nairn, Scotland and was the first time we managed to get the bikes out this year and cycle from Nairn Lochloy Holiday Park. We didn't venture far as the ground was still frozen in places but the sheer thrill of feeling the icy wind blowing in our faces was great!

We left Caravan 109 and headed through the East Beach car park and past the Nairn Dunbar Golf Course. They have spent the Winter cutting back a lot of the Gorse bushes so you now get some nice views across the Golf Course. We then went on past the Minister's Pool and cut up in to the Culbin Forest where there is a great little track with a few twists and turns, as well as a great steep trick slope! We stopped and looked out over the marsh and mudflats where there were huge flocks of Knot, Oystercatcher and Redshank. There were also large numbers of Bar Tailed Godwits. We then returned past Darren (the Bull) and along the road back to the Caravan Park.

Having put the bikes away, we then set off on foot the other way towards Nairn harbour. On the beach we passed the resident (in Winter) flock of Snow Buntings which seems to get bigger each time we see them. There must be at least 70 of them. We then stopped off at Basil, the wonderful little cafe by the harbour. They are currently doing the best fresh Crab sandwiches in the world!! Fed and watered we carried on past the Links Tearoom and towards the Nairn Championship Golf Course.

Out to sea there were lots of Gulls but it was the wildfowl that were the stars. There were lots of Long Tailed Ducks (or Fairy Penguins as a friend of ours calls them!), 3 female Common Scoter, some Eider and a small flock of Scaup including a splendid male. There was also a beautiful male Red Breasted Merganser close in showing his colours in the sunshine.

On the way back to Croy we came across a huge flock of Pink Footed Geese and amongst them there were two Barnacle Geese. They look very out of place!!

Wildlife watching in Culbin

We had a day out yesterday on the bikes cycling from the caravan at Lochloy Holiday Park into the Culbin Forest. The weather was clear, with nice Winter sunshine but a howling gale.

Before getting to the caravan we stopped off to have a look out to sea from Nairn harbour. We were rewarded with excellent views of 4 Long Tailed Ducks playing in the sea spray as well as a flock of Turnstones on the harbour wall. There was also a brave windsurfer about to set sail!

From caravan 109 we set off east through the East Beach car park and along past the Minister's Pool at Kingsteps. On through the exciting little cycle path in Lochloy Wood to the first viewing point out over the tidal sands. Looking out over the unusually high water the were masses of waders clinging to the last remaining bits of land above water. There were Oystercatcher, Dunlin, Knot, Bar Tailed Godwit, Curlew and Redshank as well as a small flock of Brent Geese and a few Wigeon. The sunshine on the November grasses contrasting with the blue skies made for a spectacular view.

Back in the woods on the cycle path we stopped to wathc a flock of Coal Tits, Goldcrests and a pair of Treecreepers. We then headed on past Maviston Dunes to Point 20 where you get good views out over the tidal mud flats. There are lots of posts in the mud which were put there during World War II to stop enemy gliders landing! Out on the water were 2 Goldeneye but the highlight here were 4 Snow Buntings flying West into the teeth of the gale. Wonderful!

The ride back to the caravan was harder than the outward leg as it was back into the raging Westerly wind, but the trip was well worth it. It is about a 9 mile round trip.

Cycling in the Culbin Forest

If you decide to come and stay in Caravan 109 at Lochloy Holiday Park, Nairn, you will be able to bring your bikes with you and cycle direct from the caravan. There is direct access from the site to the cycle tracks that lead in to the Culbin Forest.

It is not difficult cycling and there are miles and miles of cycle tracks through the forest. Cycling from the East Beach car park at the east end of the caravan park, you head past Minister's Pool at Kingsteps and towards Maviston Dunes. Just beyond this are a couple of access points that allow you to look out over the tidal mud flats that form part of the RSPB Nature Reserve. Here you might see and hear Curlews as well as see flocks of Crossbills flying overhead.

Back on the cycle tracks you can meander your way towards the Wellhill carpark and the beginning of the Hill 99 Trail. This is an interesting trail and the viewpoint tower allows you to get fantastic views out over the Moray Firth towards the Black Isle. Further north you can see the Dornoch Firth and on a clear day most of the way up towards John O'Groats. There are other interesting features on the Hill 99 Trail such as the Dragonfly Pool and Gravel Pit Ponds.

You can head back to the caravan from here or which is about a 15 mile round trip. You can retrace your steps through the forest taking a different route, or you can return on the small B road which brings you back past Nairn Dunbar Golf Course.