The Daily Telegraph - Saturday - Travel
Travelling life
‘Jamie and Andy loved listening to story tapes in the car’
How often do you travel?
On average, 25 weeks of the year, but now that I’ve stepped down as captain of the Fed Cup, I’ll be at home more in Scotland with my Tennis on the Road programme. I’m really looking forward to spending more time with family, including my nieces and new granddaughter.
Your earliest memory of travelling abroad?
When I was five or six, my mum, Shirley, used to drive me and my younger brothers, Keith and Neil, to Berwick-upon-Tweed, where she was from, to stay with our grandparents. Keith is only two years younger than me and I distinctly remember spending most of the ride
fighting and Mum having to keep one hand on the wheel and use the other hitting us to get us to behave, in between bribing us with pit stops at ice-cream stores.
Where did you take Andy and Jamie when they were young?
Our first big trip was a car-ferry camping trip to France. I became very good at car games like I Spy because I think the key to stop children misbehaving on long journeys is to have lots of distractions. The boys loved listening to story tapes, especially ones from Roald Dahl and the Singing Kettle. That’s not to say they didn’t fight. Once we were at the campsite, our days were jam-packed with beach activities and exploring – the boys would conk out each evening.
What do you need for a perfect holiday?
Most of my life I’ve not been very good at sitting still and I’ve always been on the road with big groups of people. So lying on a beach never appealed to me. It does now, just to have time to myself to read and switch off.
Most remote place you’ve been?
After Andy won the US Open in 2012, I was absolutely exhausted emotionally. I didn’t have a huge window of time, so I went to the most remote, but accessible, place I knew – the Isle of Eriska Hotel near Oban off the west coast of Scotland. It’s a historic seaside hotel, set in beautiful grounds, with no mobile phone reception, and amazing food and a spa.
Most remote place you’ve played tennis?
Bunabhainneadar Tennis Court on the west coast of the Isle of Harris – it’s meant to be the most remote tennis court in the world. It’s in the middle of nowhere with the sea on one side and the mountains on the other, sheep being your only hazard. There’s an honesty box for payment.
Worst travel experience?
In Tunisia in 2003. I was travelling with a small group of teenagers and another younger coach. We landed in Tunis and had to get a taxi to the train station to travel on to Monastir. We got hustled into two taxis and suddenly we were taken off the main road and ended up underneath a deserted motorway bridge. My heart stopped, as our driver jumped out and wrenched open the back-seat door, where I was. I thought I was about to be robbed or attacked. He “offered” to take us all the way to Monastir. It actually wasn’t a bad price he was asking for in dollars, but we weren’t in a position to say no. After we continued I told him how frightening that was. His English was good as he’d been to university in the United States and he said, “Madam, I understand, we would never have harmed you, but we have to make a living.” I ended up having a fascinating conversation with him for the rest of the journey, but I was definitely glad to get out!
Favourite city?
Rome. It’s easy to explore on foot, there’s just so much to see and the food is fantastic. I also love New York for the theatre on Broadway and the city feels alive 24/7.
Favourite hotel?
Carlisle Bay in Antigua because the private huts are right on the beach, which is magical to wake up to, and the food was phenomenal. In Europe, La Manga Club Resort in Spain because of the range of activities on offer. Closer to home it’d have to be Cromlix, the traditional Scottish country house hotel near Dunblane that I opened with Andy in 2014, which is steeped in history and its grounds are beautiful.
Best restaurant?
Andrés Carne de Res in Chía, Colombia. I was just there about a month ago. It’s the most eccentrically decorated restaurant I’ve ever been to, not to mention huge! The atmosphere is lively because they employ actors as table entertainers, which is great fun. It serves fabulous traditional food and empanadas to die for. I had the biggest and best piña colada served in a huge terracotta container, which kept it ice-cold for hours. There are small dance floors throughout the restaurant and lively Colombian music until the small hours.
Favourite airline?
Emirates – excellent service, very comfortable, you can charge your electronic devices easily, there’s Wi-Fi and a huge choice of movies and entertainment, which is vital on a long-haul flight. Plus they have an actual bar on the plane. I fly with them whenever I go to Australia.
Best piece of travel advice?
Always travel with clothes pegs because curtains never shut properly and you get to sleep better if it’s pitch black.
Best health tip?
If you’re flying across several time zones, eat before you get on the flight, don’t eat a stodgy meal on the flight. When you arrive, eat a meal appropriate to the local time, which helps you acclimatise better.
Anything you hate about travelling?
Airports. They’re so dull and you have to queue to do everything.
Where next?
South Africa to go on safari and to promote tennis. I’d also love to see Venice. Judy Murray is an ambassador for Highland Spring’s Anywhere for Tennis campaign. For more inspiration follow @Highland_Spring on Twitter or see highlandspring.com.