Travel: 48 Hours in Gairloch

Friday, 6pm Arrive at Sands Holiday Centre and settle into your accommodation – a cosy wooden wigwam.

8pm Cook alfresco, or if the weather's poor, use the kitchen on site.

Saturday, 9am Walk through the sand dunes and onto the beach, just seconds from the wigwam, to awaken the senses. The view out to Longa Island is stunning.

11am Visit Inverewe Gardens, just nine miles away on the shores of Loch Ewe. Marvel at the variety of plant life on offer.

3pm Stop off at the Mountain Coffee Company in Gairloch for delicious home baking and a cappuccino. Spend a relaxing hour at the attached bookshop.

6pm Cook a steak on the barbecue and enjoy a glass of wine at your picnic table, next to the wigwam.

9pm Paddle on the beach as the sun goes down over Gairloch Bay. On the way back try the Flying Fox in the park.

Sunday, 10am To the spectacularly located Rua Reidh lighthouse. Learn about the fulmers, shags and kittiwakes nesting in the cliffs at the colourful visitor centre.

1:30pm Hang out with the lighthouse's robust resident chickens, before a blustery walk along one of the coastline walkways.

6pm Check out of your wigwam and head home, but not before one last stroll through the sand dunes.

The facts

Sands Caravan Holiday Centre is open from 26 March (01445 712152, www.sandsholidaycentre.co.uk). There is a variety of accommodation on offer, with fully serviced caravan homes and wigwams, or take your own caravan, tent or motor home. Gairloch itself has all the usual amenities and ample restaurants and cafes to suit all tastes. Inverewe Gardens are open all year round from 10am. Adults 8.50, concessions 5.50, www.nts.org.uk/Property/36/

• This article was first published in the Scotsman, March 6, 2010