Caravan holidays in Scotland

Classroom Restaurant, Nairn

Yesterday evening we decided to go to the Classroom in Nairn to see how the new owners were getting on. It has recently been taken over by Fiona and William Lean who own and operate Househill Courtyard, the very nice coffee shop and Farm Shop on the Grantown on Spey road (see November 20th post).

We booked a table for 3 at 8.30pm but got there a bit early. Fiona was on hand to greet us and explained that they felt that Nairn needed somewhere that offered good quality organic and fresh produce, such as the produce they sell in the Farm Shop at Househill. This was in eveidence on the menu with their Killala Chicken featuring as well as their excellent steaks.

It was fairly quiet as they are adopting a softly softly approach to their new venture. There was a team of very willing waiters and waitresses on hand and the young lady that looked after us was fantastic!!! We had Cullen Skink as one starter and a trio of White Pudding, Black Pudding and Haggis as another. Main courses were the Killala Chicken stuffed with King Prawns and Leeks and a plain Sirloin Steak with House Salad. It was all washed down with a bottle of Pinot Grigio and a couple of Ports (with our Cheese). Considering it was their first full night of operation it was very good.

The Classroom is on Cawdor Street in Nairn, opposite the Post Office and is open 7 days a week. It is about a 15 minute walk from Caravan 109 at Nairn Lochloy Holiday Park.

Basil Harbour Cafe, Nairn

Today is not such a great day at Nairn Lochloy Holiday Park so if you were staying in Caravan 109 on a caravan holiday in Scotland, you might be looking for something to do not too far away in order to dodge the showers.

A trip around Nairn Harbour and a walk along the beach are always a great idea as the harbour is only a 5 minute walk from the caravan. There are always a good number of boats in the harbour and during holiday periods, Phoenix run their boat trips out in to the Moray Firth to see the Bottle Nosed Dolphins.

At the moment there are lots of birds on the River Nairn and everyone is eagerly awaiting the hatching of this year's Mute Swan cygnets. Last year they hatched on the 20th April which was very early. They must be due any day!!

  Any walk around the harbour must include a drink, snack or meal in Basil Harbour Cafe. It is small and seats about 16 inside and another dozen outside. It is however a great place to have a coffee or hot chocolate, and their Crab Sandwich is the best we have ever had. They do their own handmade chips and regularly offer Scottish favourites such as Cullen Skink. They do sit in food and drink as well as take aways and have just started to offer evening meals from Wednesday to Saturday inclusive. Last orders are at 8.45pm. We are hoping to go next week so will report back then.

First ducklings of the year in Nairn

On the River Nairn today there was the first new family of ducklings of the year. There was a mother with 8 tiny ducklings all scrambling for cover in the undergrowth. They all looked very cute!

The pair of Mute Swans are still on their nest on the island in the middle of the river. The cygnets must be about to hatch, although they will be a bit later than last year when the brood was Scotland's earliest Mute Swan chicks.

Remember you can experience all of this by taking a caravan holiday in Nairn, Scotland and staying in Caravan 109. Caravan 109 is at Nairn Lochloy Holiday Park right only 50 yards from the East Beach with fantastic views across the Moray Firth to the Black Isle. Click here for details on how to book.

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!!

Snow Buntings on Nairn Beach

On Saturday we took a walk along the frozen beach at Nairn, past Caravan 109 at Lochloy Holiday Park. It was very cold with a light breeze and a bit of watery sunshine peeking through.

Looking out over the Moray Firth towards the Black Isle there were a couple of tugs towing what looked like a huge oil platform - no doubt heading for the yards at Invergordon. It looked great with the sun shining on it.

On the shore there were 2 Bar tailed Godwits as well as a small flock of Sanderling. And then we disturbed a flock of about 40 Snow Buntings feeding on the beach. Always a great Winter sight. We followed them for about half an hour until they doubled back over our heads and disappeared towards Nairn.

Frosty day in Nairn

On our first day back after our Christmas break we went into Nairn for a few supplies. The whole countryside is white with frost and the temperature never got above minus 5 degrees. We also went down to Lochloy Holiday Park to check on Caravan 109. All the caravans looked very pretty with the frost hanging off them and the sun reflecting off the ice. Let's hope it warms up a bit before the site re-opens for customers in March.

On the way home we stopped at the Village Green, a wonderful little shop and tea room. It is small, simple but very good. The girls running it are very friendly and the shop is filled with tasteful household items. The tea room serves soup, sandwiches and wonderful cakes. Do call in if you are passing through Cawdor or visiting the Castle.

Nairn, just before Christmas

The weather was dry but very windy, and the sun was low in the sky on the weekend of the shortest day of the year. The shops were open and people were catching up on last minute Christmas shopping. Nairn Round Table had a Santa sleigh in the High Street blasting out good old Christmas favourites - and lots of collection buckets as well. We went down to the caravan at Lochloy Holiday Park, Nairn, to change the salt in Caravan 109. We do this in the Winter to absorb any moisture inside the caravan.

The tide was almost out and the sun was bouncing off the sand of Nairn East beach. There were huge flocks of Herring Gulls as well as a large flock of Knot flying around. They looked fantastic with the sun catching their wings as they flew in unison. On the ground there were large flocks of Redshanks and Bar Tailed Godwits huddled in the wind. There was a solitary Grey Plover. Overheard there were skeins of Pink Footed Geese and out to sea there were the usual Long Tailed Ducks playing in the waves.

On past Ministers Pond we said hello to Darren the Highland Cattle bull. We also saw the 'only Magpie in the Highlands' which is always around the farm at Kingsteps. In the trees were 3 Herons and on the small pond by the farm were a dozen beautiful Teal. The trees were full of Goldfinches.

We then passed Nairn Dunbar Golf Course which was open, albeit empty. They were playing on full greens and it made me envious and wanting to play. We then completed the circuit and went for a coffee at Basil by Nairn Harbour. This is a great little place, open all year and serving quality coffees and light bites. We had 2 lattes and a fresh Crab Sandwich. Fantastic!

An icy Winter's walk in Nairn, Scotland

Today was bitter but blue skies all above. We took a walk along the coast to the West of Lochloy Holiday Park - the path runs right next to the sea for the whole duration. As we left Nairn Harbour there was a Moorhen wandering around on the rocks in the River. A Highland rarity!

The path runs past the Links Tearoom - well worth a visit when it opens in March. It then goes on past Nairn Leisure Centre along a wide path in front of all the larger houses in Nairn. They all have fantastic views looking out over the Moray Firth towards the Black Isle and further north towards Dornoch, Dunrobin Castle and on towards John O'Groats.

Next you pass in front of the Golf View Hotel with 42 bedrooms, a swimming pool and gym. Not much further on you come to Nairn Championship Links Golf Course. Although it looks private, you can walk down the right hand side of the car park and the footpath then continues down the right hand side of the first fairway. You can keep going for as far as you can manage. We turned round here but not before surprising a small flock of 25 Brent Geese and 2 Purple Sandpipers!!

Out at sea there were hundreds (literally) of Long Tailed Ducks, as well as a small flock of female Common Scoter. Closer in there were also about 20 Eider and 6 female Scaup with about 10 female Long Tailed Ducks. No males with them!! All well worth the icy walk.

Snow in Nairn

Today was another icy cold morning so we headed down to Nairn for a walk on the beach. Remember you can do all this direct from Caravan 109 on the Lochloy Holiday Park in Nairn, Scotland.

As usual we headed down the harbour wall and then on to Nairn Beach which was completely frozen and covered in a thin layer of snow. There were people walking their dogs and a good few folk wrapped up well against the cold. There was also a group of lads playing handball - the tide was coming in and driving them further up the beach.

We cut back through the sand dunes and into the Holiday Park - it was good to see Caravan 109 in the snow. Remember the Park is closed at the moment until the 21st March but you can book your 2009 caravan holiday in Nairn, Scotland now.

Birdwatching around Nairn

A couple of days ago on an icy cold morning we had a look around Nairn to see what birds were around. There were the usual Long Tailed Ducks and Common Scoter out to sea but there was also a small flock of Lapwing flying well out over the Moray Firth. On the harbour wall was a very cold looking Rock Pipit as well as a very friendly Robin. Overhead was a small flock of Greylag Geese moving inland.

Down towards Ministers Pool there were some Cormorants drying their wings on the exposed sand spit, as well as a lone female Goldeneye in the calm shallows. On the Pool itself were half a dozen Common Snipe huddled together.