What’s your holiday trigger?

Is it the moment you retrieve the suitcase from the back of the cupboard, when you’re on route and you pass a specific landmark or does it start a long time before that? - when you’ve received your email confirmation and put that countdown calendar up on the fridge?

For me, it’s the actual day of departure and passing landmarks that gives me all the holiday feels. When holidaying or one night get-awaying in Scotland, either heading over the Forth Road Bridge or passing through Glencoe and stopping at the Green Welly are my markers meaning holidaytime!

REVIEW OF HIGHLAND HOLIDAYS BEN NEVIS HOLIDAY PARK, FORT WILLIAM, SCOTLAND

Recently on my trip to Fort William, to stay at the Highland Holidays Ben Nevis Holiday Park, seeing that wee white hoose in Glencoe and grabbing a coffee at the Green Welly before veering off to the right at the split in the road (one road goes to Oban, the other Fort William) signals a time to relax, take it easy, enjoy, breathe, escape and switch off (for a wee while anyway).

Highland Holidays Ben Nevis Holiday Park is located on the outskirts of Fort William, just behind the high school and on the banks of the River Lochy.

The park is vast and provides a mixture of accommodation to suit all budgets. All the accommodation is self catering and ranges from camping and caravan pitches, to glamping pods, cabins and luxury hot tub lodges.

The camping area (tents and for those camping in the back of their cars) is located as close to the river as possible, with the motorhomes and caravans located further along. All the static accommodation is further back from the river with limited views of the river but always with the sightline of Ben Nevis.

The park is going through a bit of a refurb so the reception, cafe and takeaway were closed with a makeshift reception and small essential shop located in a space opposite where the reception would be. Although work is being done, we never heard any noise and the park remains spotless. It is very well maintained with really lovely staff should you need them for anything.

There was also no wifi available in the park which meant no access to decent TV, movies, or being able to connect to work emails etc. They are seemingly undergoing an Full Fibre Broadband upgrade and I was informed this would take quite a few weeks before they were back up and running again. When wifi is available again, please do be aware that it is not free of charge.

We stayed in the Nevis Hot Tub Lodge 1. This is a one bedroom lodge for 2 people with a hot tub on the deck. A fully equipped kitchen/dining area/lounge area with microwave, oven and hob, large screen TV, fire place and large comfy couch.

A king size bed greets you in the bedroom with a small dressing area between the room and the bathroom.

The lodge is comfortable although compact - you most definitely need that outside space otherwise it will start to feel quite cramped otherwise. It’s not that you will bump into each other or need to squeeze past furniture, it’s more you just crave room and space.

There are Hot Tub Lodges with 1, 2, 3 and 4 bedrooms available. Our 1 bedroom Hot Tub lodge starts from £187 per night whilst the 4 bedroom hot tubs lodges start at £450 (which is great if you are on a gals/guys weekend or a few couples or large family get together).

The best part for me is the hot tub, without a doubt. Switch on those bubbles and all those troubles just disappear. Even in rainy weather conditions, jumping in the hot tub is still wonderful and I made use of this glorious tub at every opportunity I could.

Glass isn’t allowed in the hot tub, but the park caters for this by supplying a range of plastic glassware ideal for enjoying those celebratory or romantic moments in the hot tub.

The great thing about Ben Nevis Holiday Park is it’s location. It truly is a hot spot for adventure with many of those staying in the park being motorcyclists, hikers, cyclists, kayakers, fishermen, and non Scottish tourists looking to visit many of the fabulous attractions in and around Fort William. It’s also Harry Potter country with many a landmark, and attraction used in the Harry Potter films.

• Glenfinnan Viaduct 25 minute drive (The viaduct features in three Harry Potter movies: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire).

• Jacobian Steam Train that you can travel on leaves from Fort William, an 8 minute drive from the park (yes, this is the Hogwarts Express!)

• Loch Shiel (close to the Glenfinnan Viaduct and is the background scenery in most of the HP films especially the underwater stage (Second Stage) of the Triwizard Tournament in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.)

• Steall Waterfall 20 minute drive (Steall Falls featured in a number of the Harry Potter movies, primarily as a backdrop to broomstick flying scenes including some of the Quidditch matches. The waterfall is probably best recognized from being in several scenes during the Triwizard Tournament in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.)

Although I love Harry Potter, for me its about the whisky! We used Ben Nevis Holiday Park as our base whilst we done some whisky distillery bagging, namely Ben Nevis Distillery in Fort William, Oban Distillery in Oban and Tobermory Distillery on the Isle of Mull.

Look out for my tartan Spoon blog post, coming soon, on our day trip to the Isle of Mull, resulting in that wonderful smoked trout and oyster platter I had by the hot tub.

You all know that I LOVE a hot tub holiday and although this wasn’t a super uber relaxing getaway, it was most certainly a very well located accommodation that allowed us to venture out around Fort William and Oban and then come back to truly relax in our accommodation.

Things to note:

• The holiday park is dog friendly - hoorah

• There is ample parking close to your lodge

• The roads around Fort William are in good condition with minimal pot holes although traffic is busy so do factor that in to your travel times

• Fort William is easily accessible via train, bus and car. You could consider hiring a car from Go Virtuo and arrive in style.

• There is a food shopping centre about 5 minute drive from the park which includes M&S Food, Aldi and Home Bargains

• Although a small bottle of washing up liquid is provided, if you are staying for more than 2 days, its best to bring or buy. Two toilet rolls are provided, but these are not topped up. And you will need black bin bags too

If you are into adventure, sight seeing or just wanting to discover this part of Scotland, then most definitely consider staying here. It’s easy, comfortable, the space is your own and its very very quiet. I just wish the weather hadn’t been so dreich!

Highland Holidays, Ben Nevis Holiday Park, Fort William www.highlandholidays.com

My Spoon Award : Silver 8/10

I was invited by Highland Holidays, Ben Nevis Holiday Park to review their Hot Tub Lodge. Accommodation was complimentary but the views are very much my own