Let’s get one thing straight – I hate the word "staycation". This year may be the year of the staycation but I beg to differ. We’re British, for goodness sake, and we go on holiday, not vacation. Therefore I offer up my own term, the brolliday, a holiday where you stay in Britain (with the subtle and slightly unkind hint that you might need to pack a brolly).

So, if you are planning a brolliday with your family this year, then the Crieff Hydro could be the place to go.

The Crieff Hydro began life as the Strathearn Hydropathic Establishment in 1868, tapping into the Victorian fascination with hydropathy, the use of water treatments for all sorts of ailments.

Crieff sits in the valley of the River Earn in the southern Scottish Highlands, around 17 miles west of Perth. The area is dominated by Ben Chonzie and Ben Vorlich, both a shade under 1000 metres high.

The Hydro has grown dramatically over the years. The original Victorian building, complete with a tower and turreted rooms, has grown through various extensions while a number of other buildings have sprung up across the 900-acre estate.

These days the attraction is less “taking the waters” and more about “family fun” and is one of the most popular places to stay for Scottish families during the school holidays.

The list of activities is virtually endless – horse riding, quad bikes, high-wire parks in the trees, fishing on a nearby loch, laser shooting ranges, tennis and an 18-hole parkland golf course.

The highlight from my three-year-old son was driving a toddler-sized Land Rover, complete with accelerator and brake, all by himself although it did cause an outbreak of helicopter parent syndrome in me as he sped off uncontrollably around the circuit.

A few years back, the hotel developed something of a reputation being slightly past its prime, but all of the hotel’s rooms have now been refurbished. Our room – 267 – had a rich purple and gold colour scheme with heavy, swirly-patterned curtains good for blocking out the early morning light and fabulous chairs covered in contemporary stripy fabric. Ours also had a windowed turret overlooking the main entrance.

Not all of the rooms are so richly decorated but all are pleasant enough, judging by a sneaky tour of some of the rooms while the cleaners were popping in and out.

This really is a family hotel. The sheer quantity of kids here is likely to send couples screaming through the gates, although this may not be quite such a problem outside of the school holidays.

If you want some time away from the kids, the hotel operates a open play facility next to the main hotel building called Big Country. The hotel offers two three-hour supervised sessions for two to 12 year olds and there is plenty to do, including soft play and art and craft.

Times recommends

• Tuesday: the latest airport and flights news
• Wild Girls hit the Klosters slopes
• Red Sea: the complete guide