IT was the height of the summer of love and it sparked a lifelong affair that has just celebrated a remarkable golden anniversary.
Muriel Philip, 91, has just spent her 50th consecutive holiday in the same caravan site overlooking the stunning Achmelvich Bay in Sutherland, which she first enjoyed in 1967.
Mrs Philip also brought her daughters, Aileen and Marjorie, five grandchildren and four great grandchildren to Hillhead Self Catering Caravans as her family grew over the years.
But, despite her age, the intrepid Mrs Philip even drove herself the 240 miles from Edinburgh to her favourite holiday spot.
She is said to “love the place as it is truly special.”
Her late husband George, an actuary, also shared those caravan years until he died, aged 94, four years ago.
In recognition of her “long service,” former teacher Mrs Philip, from Edinburgh, has now been presented with a clock by caravan park owners Durrant and Maysie Macleod, who themselves have also logged 53 seasons at the centre.
Mr Macleod said he also had many families who had also been coming for decades.
He said: “We have another couple of 40 years of coming here, another at 38 years, many in the thirties and twenties and heaps in the teens and so on. It becomes a big family as they meet and grow together on holiday.
“Achmelvich has this magic of keep bringing people back. For those at our caravans it is like an institution – meeting up with old friends.
“Muriel has come for five weeks for the last 30 years, and at the same time. She just loves it here – the beauty, the peace and the stunning beach. It is such a wonderful place.
“All her family have been with her for some of this break.
“George came for 46 years consecutively until he passed away.
“But Muriel has continued to come to a place she clearly loves so much.
“And we love having her and the family – after 50 years she certainly is the park’s leading lady and honoured guest.
“She has the same view of the bay in all those years – in fact the only thing that has changed is the caravans we have replaced over the years.
“I guess Muriel could walk in blindfolded and know where everything is, that is until that van is changed again.”
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