We had a vantastic time on our caravan holiday in the rain

Don't let the weather put you off a caravan break - just pack your wellies

If it wisnae fur yer wellies, where would you be? The great Billy Connolly might well have been on a caravan holiday in his native Scotland when he wrote that classic line. You always take a chance holidaying in this country in the spring months, well actually in any month. But we are a hardy enough bunch not to let a spot of rain get in the way of a cracking break.

And the sound of rain pitter-pattering on the roof of your caravan is surely a childhood experience all kids should have? It’s a rite of passage. We packed up the dog, the kids and plenty of wet-weather gear and headed to the picturesque Rosneath peninsula for a nostalgic holiday. And it’s true what they say, there’s no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing.

We arrived at the pristine Rosneath Castle Park site in Argyll to sunshine and were shown to our home for the next few nights. We were joined by our friend and her two daughters and the kids quickly bagged bedrooms and unpacked. I have my own fond memories of caravan holidays with my grandparents but back then we were all packed into a touring van with space at a premium.

Our caravan, a dog-friendly one, was spacious, spotlessly clean with a full- sized fridge freezer, oven and hob with plenty of space to cook. With a double and two twin rooms it comfortably slept the six of us and there was room for Scout the labrador’s bed in the living area. The decor was of a high standard and the corner couch left plenty of space to sprawl out – with four kids in tow. Even the shower, which in my grandparents’ caravan was above a toilet, wasa full size and a separate toilet off the main bedroom meant there was no queuing.

Once unpacked we wanted to get out and explore while the weather was on our side, so off we trooped – wellies on, just in case. The park is situated on the banks of Gareloch with pebbly coves which is great for exploring and provided plenty of sniffing spots for Scout. Dogs should be kept on leads around the park but he spent most of the time in the water chasing pebbles and sticks.

An onsite adventure playground was well used by our lot who loved the zip line and there’s also watersports with kayaking and paddleboards for hire as well as the wetsuits. For smaller caravanners, there is an indoor soft play which is perfect when the weather decides to play up.

Scrambling over rocks on the beach is much more fun in wellies, according to the kids, unless you’re the adult watching them slipping and sliding while thinking about where the nearest A&E might be. The great thing about caravanning is the freedom to let the kids out to roam the park without worrying about their safety. They were perfectly happy being outdoors with their friends exploring and us parents, after dishing out a few rules, were relaxed that they were fine.

If you want to venture out of the park and have a look around the nearby area, there are plenty of options. It’s a great base for exploring Loch Lomond, and the nearby town of Helensburgh has plenty of shops to browse. It’s handy enough if you wanted to stock up on supermarket items during your stay. One rainy day we headed to the leisure centre in the town for swimming which was a fun an inexpensive way to entertain the kids.

Day trips are a plenty with Dunoon, Oban and Stirling a comfortable drive away. Gardening enthusiasts would enjoy a trip to Linn Botanic Gardens with its water garden, fountains and waterfall which is just five miles away in Cove. You can also get onboard the world’s last sea-going paddle steamer, the PS Waverley, which leaves nearby Kilcreggan during the summer months (waverleyexcursions.co.uk for times and prices).

Back at the park, The Castle Isle Restaurant & Bar is located on-site and is open seven days a week. It also does takeaways if you want to eat in your accommodation without cooking.We went for dinner and the kids’ menu was good value with main courses costing between £10.50 and £13.50. The children got two courses for £9. During the summer and the school holidays, the bar also has entertainment including music and quizzes.

Rosneath’s proximity to Loch Lomond means you won’t be short of things to do with energetic kids. We took a trip there for an afternoon at TreeZone Loch Lomond at Balloch. It’s just 20 miles and a scenic drive to get there. The girls had a brilliant time conquering the aerial adventures on offer while Scout and I kept our feet firmly on the ground.

And he also had a fair few dips in the loch meaning I was able to head back to the Rosneath with happy, tired kids and a happy, tired dog. As we packed up on our final day, we all felt like we’d had a great break filled with good, wholesome fun. It seems the joys of the caravan holiday has successfully been passed down a generation with my two already planning our next trip. Wellies included, just in case.

*For information and to book largoleisure.co.uk

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