I’ve been to the same UK coastal village since I was a kid – it has quiet beaches and blue waters like the Caribbean
THERE’S not many places I would willingly get up at 4am, after packing up my car along with my husband and kids.
But there is one in the UK – and that place is Brora.
I’ve been visiting the small coastal village, which sits in the northeast of Scotland, since I was a child.
But it’s not just the nostalgic memories that make me want to return year-on-year, now with kids of my own.
The place is a haven for secret and blissfully quiet beaches with bright blue waters that make it hard to believe it’s the UK, not the Caribbean.
After two stops and just over 12 hours later, we reached our pretty stone holiday cottage, Sona Di (Happy Days in Gaelic).
The sun seemed to have reared its head for our visit and as soon as I caught a glimpse of the lapping sea from our drive, I was instantly reminded of Brora’s incomparable beauty.
With a four and 17-year-old in tow, finding a holiday to suit both kids with a big age gap can be a challenge but Brora ticks all the boxes.
Just a five-mile coastal drive south from our cottage, you’ll find Golspie which is home to the fairytale-looking Dunrobin Castle, dating back to the early 1300s.
It’s a great spot for youngsters and adults, even if you’re not a history enthusiast.
The falconry display here is a family favourite, which takes place twice a day from April through to October.
It has the youngest of my daughters mesmerised as she watches the majestic creature take flight, swooping across the audience.
From Dunrobin Castle, you can cross the road and enter the ‘Big Burn Walk’. At a mere 3 kilometres, this mini trek is suitable for amateurs, like us, and even the little legs of my four-year old.
This walk has become part of our annual routine and we do it at least once every time we visit, just to marvel at the breathtaking scenery. Walking through the rocky, jungle-like landscape this path will lead you to a tumbling waterfall – it’s the perfect Instagram spot for my snap-happy 17 year old.
After working up an appetite, there really is no better way to end the day than tucking into a takeaway from Sid’s Spice, voted the No2 best Indian restaurant in the whole of Scotland.
They have everything from classic tandoori dishes to the notorious Sids House Soecial with marinated chicken tikka, lamb tikka and tandoor king prawns.
When it comes to grub, Indian isn’t the only cuisine Brora does well.
Cocoa Skye, known for its diverse range of sweet and savoury waffles, is an absolute must.
Another top spot for sweet treats is Capaldi’s of Brora. The shop has been producing fantastic ice cream since 1959 and has the broadest selection I’ve ever seen from traditional favourites such as rum raisin and raspberry ripple to their renowned honeycomb and even a seasonal ‘Barbie’ flavour (a favourite among the kids again, of course).
The kids were particularly smitten with the ‘Barbie‘ waffle, which comes with pink chocolate shards, raspberries and marshmallows, all piled on top of a pink waffle.
We’d picked a good time to visit as the weather was glorious for the whole week so beach time was ample.
A cheery local had told us that the seals were out in abundance that day in Golspie village, a 30-minute stroll from our cottage.
Approaching Golspie beach we were stunned by the number of the creatures littered across the shoreline, some bathing on the sands and others bobbing in the sea.
There were easily over 50 of them, but not a single other human in sight, meaning we had this entire sandy patch all to ourselves. My youngest was in awe as she watched the seals roll around, flopping between the sea and the shoreline.
It’s not all about the kids, though and there’s plenty for the grown ups to get stuck into in these parts too.
High on our list was Clynelish Distillery, also in Brora, which has tasting tours or you can simply enjoy the first-floor bar with its stunning views overlooking the North Sea.
The whiskey-infused cocktails, homemade cakes and super friendly staff made us go back three times during our stay.
On our final day, my husband couldn’t resist a round of golf at the championship links course, so myself and the children headed back to Capaldi’s.
As we walked down the road towards the harbour with our ice cream in hand and the blue sea glistening in front of us, it was hard to believe we were still in the UK.
I found myself wondering if we were in Brora or actually Bora Bora.