Travel: An escape to the country at Braidhaugh Holiday Park

It had been a manic few weeks and as we set off for Braidhaugh Holiday Park, my mind is running through an internal to-do list, adding, cataloguing, checking off and prioritising.

Before I know it, we are on the road. The city gives way to motorway, then A roads followed by winding country lanes, but my mind is still firmly planted at the desk. We pass bucolic Perthshire villages surrounded by rolling farmland, but the beauty of the landscape is fighting a losing battle to divert my thoughts. Huge trees weighed down with golden-brown and red leaves line the road and each twist and turn of the asphalt is a mirror of the tension in my shoulders.

When we arrive at Braidhaugh, on the edge of Crieff in Perth and Kinross, something miraculous happens. As soon as I step into our accommodation – a two-bed contemporary hot tub lodge – my shoulders relax and I am able to breathe.

All the little details from home and work melt away and I am here, in the moment with my family. We had just been checked in by the most amazing staff and within minutes I had the key and was heading to the lodge.

As we drove the few hundred yards from reception, I noted the immaculately manicured lawns and paths. It is immediately obvious the staff here have a real pride in their park.

A contemporary lodge at Braidhaugh Holiday Park.

My wife and two young daughters marvel at our home for the next few days. The lodge is a masterpiece of design and functionality, an open-plan living and dining area with a galley kitchen and beautifully cosy bedrooms.

On the deck, a hot tub bubbles softly, sending steam rising into the chilly air. We walk out towards the River Earn, which is gurgling 30 feet from the lodge. The low winter sun bathes the landscape in a painterly golden light.

The peaty water of the river is in full spate, and I watch it roll and crash, the rhythmic sounds helping to wash away the last of the stresses and worries. It’s a cliché but if the restorative feeling of being in nature could be bottled and sold, it would be the world’s greatest drug.

We could easily spend the rest of the day switching between the hot tub and curling up on the sofa with a book, but, in truth, I am one of those people who needs to have a list of activities planned. For some reason, I am always trying to make everything just so – which is probably why I had been feeling so burned out. To be fair, there are so many things in and around Crieff that I want to see and do.

First stop though, is dinner as we have a reservation for Craobh in the centre of Crieff. Craobh, which is pronounced kroov, means tree in Gaelic, and is a nod to nature and Scotland’s fabulous local larder.

And what a find the restaurant is. The chef needs singled out for an award. You can tell the dishes have been carefully curated to not only make the most of the local produce but also to ensure that each element is in harmony and adds to the whole meal. This is not fancy food for the sake of it. We have a mixture of classic dishes with well-thought-out twists or simple plates featuring the highest-quality local harvest.

Suffice to say, the food is way above the average fare – you will not get better for miles around. Make sure to order the dark chocolate pavê for dessert, it is incredibly good.

There is only one thing to do after such an amazing meal and so we drive the short distance back to Braidhaugh holiday park and dive (not literally) into the hot tub.

The next day, we head towards Comrie and Auchingarrich Wildlife Park, which is a hive of activity when we arrive. From an array of animals on display and a petting zoo to an outdoor adventure park, an excellent café and wild camping sites, Auchingarrich has a lot to offer visitors. This time of year at the park is extra special because they have a magical Winter Wonderland set up in the woods as well as the chance to Brunch With Santa. Afterwards, we spend time in Crieff’s local play park and allow our children time to enjoy themselves in the unseasonably warm winter afternoon.

Further afield, we visit the gorgeous town of Dunkeld, where fishermen cast lines out onto the River Tay and take a magnificent woodland walk.

After a packed day, we head back to Crieff and stop off at the Central Fish Bar for some traditional fish and chips. From the outside, the chippy looks more like a terraced house but inside a large queue has formed. I patiently wait for my order and am delighted to find that it comes with a free can of Irn-Bru. I have never felt more Scottish.

Where else can we end our magical stay in Crieff but back in the hot tub at Braidhaugh? The invigorating effects of staying at the holiday park have done wonders for all of us. From the toasty warmth of the water, we watch as stars pop into being in the cloudless sky. They slowly rotate above the distant Ben Lawers mountain, reminding us that no matter what we do, the world keeps turning – now if that isn’t a lesson, I don’t know what is.

P.S. For those lucky enough, Braidhaugh can be a home away from home with the park offering holiday lodge ownership opportunities. Holiday homes for sale include lodges and caravans from leading manufacturers such as Willerby and Prestige all in the pristine holiday park on the beautiful banks of the River Earn.