My Favourite Holiday – James Baxter

Former Emmerdale and Still Open All Hours actor James Baxter looks back on his most memorable holiday destinations.

“The very first holiday I remember was in Turkey and it was hardly a happy one. I was very young, about five, probably, and I got an ear infection and prickly heat rash. So I spent the whole two weeks in 40 degree temperatures, itching and crying. My mum and dad were obsessed with going to mud baths, which is the last place I wanted to be anywhere near.

I know it’s a beautiful country and the food is amazing but I think that scarred me a bit and I haven’t been back. I’ve got much happier memories from an awful lot closer to home. We used to holiday a lot at the Haggerston Castle caravan park off the A1 in Northumberland.

We’d always take my best friend, Keiran, and we’d see how much trouble we could get ourselves into! It was so self-contained that you felt like you were in your own little world, with crazy golf, quad biking and loads of other fun. It’s not far from Berwick, and we loved going there.

And I remember visits out to Holy Island. I’m not particularly religious but I found it fascinating and the trip across the causeway was an adventure in itself.

The most amazing place I’ve been to was just last year. That was India, and I went with my wife. I’d read Shantaram, an acclaimed novel which paints a fascinating picture of life in Mumbai. I’d urge anybody to read it.

It inspired us to go and see for ourselves and it really was like stepping into another world. I think it’s a bit of a Marmite destination. You’re either going to love it or hate it.

I really took to it. It’s absolutely mad, chaotic and hectic but I liked that which maybe says something about my own mental state. The people have nothing but they’re so happy.

It hit home to me that we worry about so much stuff here that’s really not worth getting bogged down about.

We went from the chaos of city life down to Goa. We actually drove non-stop and it was such a contrast as things move quite slowly.

The place we stayed in was right on the beach. It had a restaurant amongst the palm trees and it was such a stunning location.

I’ve always been a fan of Indian food so to sample these great dishes in a magic location added so much. And a litre of beer costs £1.10!

It all made such an impression on us that we’re hopefully going to make another trip this year, this time to the north of the country.

I’ve got the travelling bug and like the idea of doing something different. I’d love to take a trip to the Amazon jungle, somewhere teeming with wildlife.”