Booking a family holiday was once so much more simple.
When the kids (Jamie, 11, and Megan, 9) were younger all we needed to worry about was journey times, playgrounds and swimming pools.
But now they are a little older the overriding demand has become: ‘Is there Wifi daddy?’
So we look forward to staying in a remote log cabin in Loch Lomond with a certain sense of trepidation.
Keith took his family (and dog) to the spacious, well equipped two storey Silver Birch log cabin (pictured above) on the edge of Loch Lubnaig
Keith said the cabin ‘verges on glamorous.’ Downstairs is a large kitchen, diner and living area along with a shower room and a twin bedroom for the kids
We are on a back to basics break with Forest Holidays staying at Strathyre, one of their nine woodland locations across the country.
The key to a Forest Holiday is getting back in touch with nature.
There are no heated swimming pools and water chutes, no themed restaurants or night time entertainment.
As if to underline the ‘unplugged’ nature of the holiday the word ‘welcome’ is spelled out on a scrabble board on our cabin coffee table.
But we are in no sense slumming it.
Our spacious, well equipped two storey Silver Birch log cabin on the edge of Loch Lubnaig verges on glamorous.
Downstairs is a large kitchen, diner and living area along with a shower room and a twin bedroom for the kids.
The group stayed at Strathyre, one of Forest Holidays’ nine woodland locations across the country
A carpeted stairway leads to a large bedroom with an en suite for us.
Floor-to-ceiling windows allow the light of the forest to flood inside and the view of the Scottish mountains inviting us to venture outside.
On the balcony is a barbecue, a picnic table and to excitement from the kids, a very large hot tub.
But we can’t stay inside for too long as we have to take Charlie for a walk.
Did I mention Charlie?
He’s our two-year-old cross breed border collie and this was the first time we had taken him on holiday with us.
Forest Holidays encourages family pets, and Charlie was welcomed with a bone on our arrival.
Within minutes of being let off his lead on the path along the loch he was in his element.
Keith’s children Jamie, 11, and Megan, 9, and family dog Charlie, exploring the banks. He said: ‘It is as if their inner Famous Five are unleashed as they skim stones and play pooh sticks on the wooden bridge ‘
And so were the kids.
During the winter, walking Charlie becomes something of a chore but now they are running ahead, exploring the banks of the loch and venturing into the forest.
It is as if their inner Famous Five are unleashed as they skim stones, play pooh sticks on the wooden bridge and hop over stepping stones.
Soon they’re ready to take a lesson in Bush Skills from the Forest Holidays ranger Jack Black McGregor.
Jack – dressed in traditional Scottish dress when we arrived – describes how he is a direct descendant of Rob Roy McGregor and knows the surrounding area well.
And years in the British Army means he knows how to make the most out of the environment and how to make it enthralling for kids.
The key to a Forest Holiday is getting back in touch with nature and there is even a Forest Ranger on site to teach the kids Bush Skills
Soon they are selecting the best tasting leaves to chew, spruce branches to brew tea from and asking for a hammer and a nail to get water from a silver birch.
Being outdoors has never been so much fun.
Over the next three days we take walks along the waterfalls of Stank Burn, to the foot of Ben Ledi mountain and across Stank Glen.
We start on a relatively simple route but the kids are soon looking for more difficult hills to climb.
Back at the cabin the kids jump into the hot tub and recount the fun of the day.
Even making dinner becomes fun as the kids prepare salad with garnishes from the forest and brew what they claim to be ‘delicious’ spruce tea.
In the evenings we play cards as we plan our next adventure. We even enjoy the odd game of Scrabble.
On the balcony is a barbecue, a picnic table and to excitement from the kids, a very large hot tub (left). Floor-to-ceiling windows allow the light of the forest to flood inside and provides a view of the Scottish mountains (right)
In the evenings the family played cards and even enjoyed the odd game of Scrabble
When we don’t cook we have freshly made pizzas delivered to cabin from the Forest retreat a few hundred yards away.
But we rest too. Boy do we rest.
The cabin is so quiet, dark and cosy at night that we often sleep in.
Even Charlie, who is used to a morning walk at 5.30am, sleeps until 8am.
And mornings are a luxury, too. Hot croissants are delivered from the Forest Retreat as we contemplate what to do next.
The cabins are so luxurious that if you are not careful you might never leave your snug little hideaway.
We are only away for four nights but by the end of the holiday we feel more rested and relaxed than on some two week breaks.
Despite our fears the kids never complain about being bored.
And yes the cabins do have Wifi.
The kids don’t bother to log on once.
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