When it was just the two of us, my husband and I used to love city breaks, but for our first proper holiday with the kids, we decided to have a different type of adventure in a caravan for a few nights on the East Coast of Scotland (we’ll save our more exotic destinations for when the girls are old enough to remember them). It was very reminiscent of camping and caravan holidays from my own childhood, and my husband’s too, before the era of cheap flights abroad. We’d toyed with an island break, but opted for somewhere that wouldn’t mean too long stuck in the car for the little ones but further away than we would travel for a daytrip.
My husband and I always like to explore on holiday, but with kids in tow we found a good balance between using the amenities at the caravan park like the playpark and swimming pool (which was a first for our 8 month old daughter but she was perfectly content floating in her inflatable seat), and travelling a bit further afield to visit beaches around East Lothian and the Borders. We were incredibly lucky with the weather and only had one evening stuck inside the caravan playing games of Animal Snap and Little Bug Bingo, reading stories and watching cartoons while the rain hammered on the roof.
The caravan park turned out to be a great base for exploring the area, and we found some lovely beaches from East Beach at Dunbar, and Yellowcraig with views of Bass Rock and Fidra Lighthouse in East Lothian to Coldingham Bay in the Borders that we enjoyed so much I’m hoping we can return some day.
Our oldest daughter was in her element exploring rock pools with her dad, splashing in the sea and digging in the sand; while our youngest daughter is a bit more cautious than her sister but happy enough digging her hands and feet in the sand and letting us dip her toes in the sea.
We ended our holiday with a wander around Dirleton Castle, originally built in the 1200s and remarkably still in tact. A few sections had been closed off to the public but still lots to explore for those willing to brave the remnants of medieval staircases, and there was a playpark just outside the castle walls too.
We squeezed a lot of fun in the sun, sea and sand into our first family holiday, and I’ll treasure the memories we’ve made together. Back at home on the rainy West Coast again, we’re happy to be reunited with our cat Mara, settling back into our routines and surrounded by all the comforts of home. Have a lovely week. X
Lovely and Grateful 
Lovely photos! When they’re that age you are right to wind down expectations of travel and just enjoy the time together doing simple things. There will come a time when they’ve grown out of that, I assure you, and will be after the city breaks abroad!
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Thanks. ☺️ No point dragging the kids round museums or art galleries at this age, but we all love a day at the beach.
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It sounds like you’ve really considered your children’s needs and preferences in planning this holiday, which is admirable. The East Coast of Scotland is a wonderful place for a family holiday, offering both natural beauty and historical sites. Your trip will likely give your children wonderful memories and could instigate a lifelong love of travel. 🙂
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We wanted a holiday that we’d all enjoy, and we all love a day at the beach. Hubby and I are both from West Coast so it was fun exploring the South East of Scotland. Looking forward to lots more family holidays. X
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What lovely photos! There’s nothing like a good old-fashioned beach holiday with little ones, there is something wonderful about the sheer simplicity of it all . . . and sand-between-the toes just has to be done!
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Thank you. My husband hates the heat so this is the closest we’ll ever get to a beach holiday. 😂 It was lovely, and kids loved it. X
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Your holiday destination looks lovely and you had such nice weather. I hear the dry hot weather is meant to return in Mid August, that is when we shall be in Scotland. I have visited Coldingham Bay, which is a beautiful place, I loved the beach huts. X
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Thank you, very lucky with the weather, hope you get some sunshine in August too. Coldingham Bay was so lovely, thinking we might have a holiday in the Borders next year. X
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We liked St Abbs too and Eyemourh is also worth visiting. A lovely area. Thank you! Fingers crossed for sunshine. X
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East Lothian beaches are amazing and so easy to get to. Glad you had a good holiday. Those memories will last
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It’s not an area we’ve spent much time exploring, except when visiting friends who live there, but really enjoyed it, a little hidden gem. Kids loved it too, so we might return.
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I’ve got another blog where I record my swims including quite a few in East Lothian. It’s a lovely place https://wordpress.com/post/swimmingat60.wordpress.com/1291
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How lovely to see your children growing up.How time flies!
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