I’ve been lucky enough to have travelled quite a lot. I spent a couple of years in Tasmania as a child – so I’ve been to Australia and I’ve also done a lot of travelling to America and around Europe.
I’ve had great fun visiting places such as Dubai and Rome. And my singing career has taken me to quite a few places as well. The problem is that when you’re working, you rarely see more than the hotel and the airport.
Johnny’s girl: Catherine headed to St Vincent for a close encounter (sort of) with ‘future husband’ Johnny Depp
Taking time off from Coronation Street has to be carefully arranged as it depends on the storylines.
At the beginning of the year we say to the producer: ‘Look, when’s best for us to go away? Are there any months that are completely out of the question?’
We just have to work round the job, which is fair enough.
One of the things I don’t have to worry about is coming back with a suntan – my character, barmaid Eva, is constantly covered in fake tan.
When I used to do period dramas I practically had to walk around in a burka because you had to look like an English rose and be very pale, so going somewhere hot was a nightmare.
The places we’ve just been to – and where we are going next – are favourite topics among the cast of Corrie. Sue Cleaver, who plays Eileen, has just been filling us in on Thailand, which is definitely on my to-do list. But it was Michelle Keegan – who plays Tina – who alerted me to Buccament Bay in St Vincent in the Caribbean. She raved about it, so I couldn’t wait to get there myself.
Arriving was unforgettable. We got there around 10 at night and as my friend Ashleigh and I climbed out of the car we stepped into this wonderful velvety warm darkness.
A world away from Weatherfield: Catherine stayed at Buccament Bay, with its complex of swimming pools
We could see the silhouettes of palm trees and hear the waves on the beach. We were desperate for sunrise so we could see everything!
We crossed a small wooden footbridge – illuminated with fairy lights – to get to reception.
First impressions clearly mean a lot to Buccament Bay. We were in love with the place within minutes of arriving and we hadn’t even seen our room by that stage.
As we had been travelling all day the hotel said we could check-in the next morning – for now, relax and unpack, they said.
As they opened the door to our villa, Ashleigh and I gasped.
It was lovely, with welcome nibbles laid on our dining table. We were in a two-bedroom villa with a terrace and plunge pool. Prospects for the next seven days looked rather good.
On our first morning it was glorious waking up at about 8am and having that wonderful start-of-holiday feeling. We ordered breakfast to our room. Because we could. I indulged in steak and eggs.
We then headed down to the pool where staff member Lional made sure we wanted for nothing. Lional is one of the happiest people I’ve ever met. I nicknamed him ‘St.Vincent’s second sunshine’.
My idea of a holiday is something that leaves you fully relaxed, although as a self-confessed gym bunny, I exercise whenever I go way. And unless I’m on a hen-weekend, I’m not a big drinker.
A Caribbean classic: Wallilabou Bay in St Vincent was used in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies
Buccament Bay was absolutely perfect. It had everything – beautiful restaurants, a gym, tennis court, football training area, spa, kids’ club, beach and pool.
I made an appointment with personal trainer and nutritionist Charlotte Woolf. We hit it off straight away and I booked in for my first of many training sessions.
During our stay I had a varied and exciting programme of weight training, high-intensity training, boxing, yoga, kettlebell sessions and… tennis!
Yup, tennis! For Buccament Bay is also home to the Pat Cash Tennis Academy. Luckily, Pat was at the resort while we were there. He flies over to St Vincent as much as he can to tutor guests.
Having never so much as even glanced at a racket before, I was nervous about playing with the former Wimbledon champion.
I’ll be honest, I was pretty bad!
But I loved every second and my dad is still reeling from the fact I played rallies with Pat Cash.
Pat and resident tennis coach James Droy are wonderful teachers and I will be playing more tennis in the summer – I just need an opponent with the patience of a saint.
One of the highlights of our holiday was our trip to Wallilabou and the Dark View Waterfalls. This is where you can still find some of the sets from the Pirates Of The Caribbean films.
Anyone for tennis? Catherine enjoyed a few rallies with former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash
Wallilabou is on the west, or leeward, coast of the main island. It is also close to Barrouallie, a lovely fishing village and one of the best-known anchorages on the island.
Captain Jack Sparrow (aka my future husband Johnny Depp… ahem) has made this little cove a very popular place indeed. But don’t expect the glitz and glam of Hollywood – it’s dilapidated, it’s rustic, it’s worn… and it’s wonderful.
St Vincent boasts spectacular waterfalls that are a great day-trip option.
At the waterfalls there was a small bamboo bridge to cross. It was slippery and wobbly, and the words I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! were on the tip of my tongue.
Once across the bridge it was not long before you reached the first of three waterfalls. The third had been deemed too dangerous for us to trek to as there had been heavy rainfall. But since our group consisted of gym bunnies and the uber-fit Pat Cash, we decided we could make it to the second one.
After seeing the first, easily accessible waterfall, we were hungry for a bit of a challenge.
Getting to the second waterfall involved a steep climb over slippery rocks. I had begun to believe I was the new Indiana Jones – so I led the way!
What we saw at the top of the waterfall was breathtaking, one of the most beautiful things I’d ever seen. As I sat on the rocks at the side of this epic force of nature, I promised myself that I must come back here.
A hideaway from the world: Some of the resort’s suites have their own pools
You could go into the pool beneath the falls, but this is not for the fragile. The waterfall was so powerful it would knock you over.
Pat Cash was the only member of our group who could withstand the pressure of the fall for any amount of time. The rest of us dipped in and out. After all that exercise, we headed for the resort’s spa. Ashleigh had an Ayurvedic treatment, having oil poured on to her forehead.
I’m a big fan of sports massage. Obviously, because I train a lot, I get really bad muscle knots.
The lady that did my sports massage was really good. There’s nothing worse than when somebody spends half an hour tickling your back – it’s got to hurt! Ashleigh works as sports masseuse – she owns a spa in Manchester – so the resort staff had a lot to live up to, but they were good.
We had a variety of treatments during our stay and we were pleased with them all. The therapists are trained to a high standard and the setting was beautiful and very relaxing.
And now to my favourite holiday pastime: eating.
There were lots of healthy eating options. I follow a Paleo-diet (a nutritional plan based on the presumed diet of Paleolithic humans). It’s predominantly meat, fresh fish and vegetables – which was great for me. (In Italy, I had a nightmare diet because it was a carb overload of pizza and pasta.)
There were three main restaurants – Jacks, The Bay and Saffron. There was also a beach hut where chef Murphy cooked up a storm with a daily barbecue: huge chunks of meat and fresh seafood coated in Caribbean ‘Grandma Sauce’ – lush!
HQ was also a den of naughtiness, offering beautiful desserts, ice-cream, waffles and pancakes. It’s great for kids, but a nightmare for anyone with a metabolism like mine. They serve great coffee too.
Jacks is a beautiful restaurant, open only in the evening. The food is of a high standard, service was prompt and presentation was great. We felt there could be more choice, but that could be just us being overly critical.
Splash happy: Catherine visited some of St Vincent’s pristine waterfalls
The Bay is a more chilled out option. It is open all day and offers a large buffet selection for lunch and dinner as well as a varied menu option.
We enjoyed every meal at both of these eateries.
Saffron is a lovely Indian restaurant set further back within the resort. But by far the best dining experience had to be private dining on the beach.
Under a canopy of stars, there was a table at the end of the beach waiting for us, lit by candles, with a gigantic moon above, the likes of which I have never seen before.
I love my pal Ashleigh dearly, but I cannot help but wish that I was there with a ‘Prince Charming’.
Breakfast is served at the front of the resort, pretty much on the beach. There are lots of options and the resort plans to introduce more health foods this year, so that crazy people (like me) who like to indulge in a health kick while on holiday have access to things such as wheatgrass shots.
On the beach you can do volleyball, kayaking, scuba diving and snorkelling. There’s a plush pool, where the staff are very attentive. While indulging in our ‘lazy times’ we wanted for nothing around the pool or beach. We were spoilt rotten.
If you visit Buccament Bay be sure to watch the sunset, gaze at the stars and get up for the sunrise – the skies here are truly magical. It was one of the best holidays I’ve had.
An all-round thumbs up from this Northern lass!
Travel Facts
Tropical Sky (www.tropicalsky.co.uk, 0843 249 5361) offers seven nights at Buccament Bay from £1,449 per person on an all-inclusive basis.
The price includes return flights from Gatwick and transfers.
