THINK of caravan holidays and it's difficult not to conjure up an image of mum, dad, grandad, three kids and a dog cooped up in a sardine can with windows, while the wind and rain batter it from the outside.

That's certainly how it seemed when I was growing up in the 1970s.

Not that you would have taken the cat, but if you had, there certainly wouldn't have been room to swing it. As for facilities, those spending time at Her Majesty's Pleasure probably enjoyed more home comforts.

Thankfully, those days are long gone, and with caravan parks having entered the 21st century, you no longer look forward to going home a couple of days after having arrived.

With a love of all things outdoor, we travelled to Scotland for a week on the shores of Loch Lomond.

First impressions mean much on occasions like this and we were not disappointed when we arrived at Lomond Woods. Located just a few minutes walk from the loch, the park is a mixture of cabins and caravans, its design resembling a village rather than the car park-style encampments of old.

We stayed in the Endrick, which has central heating, a double and a single bedroom, en-suite bathroom, kitchen and dining room, and lounge. From the outside, it looked large, but inside it was almost Tardis-like with plenty of room for the two of us and our two-year-old son, Joseph.

The site has plenty of facilities but Scotland is to be experienced so we made the most of the chance to get out and about.

Loch Lomond could not be more ideally located for those who like to combine the great outdoors with city life, being at the gateway to Scotland's first national park and yet just 17 miles from the vibrant city of Glasgow.

You could come up with a different experience for every day of your trip - from the picturesque banks of Loch Lomond, and the island of Mull just a couple of hours north, to the historic town of Stirling.

Lomond Woods caravan park, near the small town of Balloch, is an ideal place to get acquainted with the area. After a walk along the banks of the Loch we decided to head out onto the water, with family-run Sweeney's Cruises. The company runs five passenger boats from Balloch, offering one and two hour cruises and evening trips around the loch.

With sights such as Ben Lomond, the historic village of Luss and numerous country homes to take in, it's a trip well worth taking.

The weather is always a factor when visiting Scotland, and close to the caravan park is the Lomond Shores visitor centre, with its shops, restaurants and tourist features, such as Drumkinnon Tower with its stunning views.

Further afield, we got to see the wild side of Scotland. Not indigenous, I grant you, but wild nonetheless. Blair Drummond Safari Park, just outside Stirling, is a terrific day out for the youngsters. Combining safari park with adventure playground, Blair Drummond gives you the opportunity to experience, close up, animals in the open before letting the kids loose on the monkey bars while you enjoy a refreshing cup of tea.

While in the area it would be remiss not to take in Stirling's 12th century castle and quaint shops. The views from the top of the castle are simply stunning.

Back on the banks of Loch Lomond we called in quite by chance on the village of Luss. After Joseph had fed the ducks and, at one point, joined them in the water, we happened across a Lilliput village - tiny stone homes built for workers in the cotton mill and slate quarries of the 18th and 19th centuries. The homes have been restored and Luss is now a conservation village.

Our trip out to Arrochar encouraged us to venture further and about 40 miles or so from our base is the town of Inveraray. You can see both sides of life in the town by paying a visit to the jail before seeing how the other half lived in the nearby castle.

We saved our longest trek for last, and took the train to Oban, a bustling fishing town with restaurants that make the most of the bounty brought in from the sea. Then we took the ferry to Mull - home to one of Joseph's favourite TV programmes, Balamory.

The great outdoors, weather which can range from the good to the godawful in the course of the day and people who define the word 'character', make Scotland a great place to visit. What's more, like a huge box of chocolates, there are so many layers to it, you can never enjoy all it has to offer in a single visit.