Best Family Holiday in Scotland/Northern England for Under 5s (Near the Sea)

[Theonlyoneiknow]

Hi,

I was wondering where people have had their best family holiday in the UK, namely in Scotland or Northern England (probably not any further south than North Yorkshire as we live in NE Scotland).

We have a 4 year old and almost 2 year old.

Preferably self-catering.

I think some of the farm stays look good but we would like to be near a beach too as they both love the sea!

Any recommendations would be great!

Thanks so much
TOOIK

[stargirl1701]

Elie in the East Neuk of Fife is lovely.

[Theonlyoneiknow]

Thanks star have you stayed anywhere there that you would recommend?

[Lesleythegiraffe]

The Moray coast is lovely and somewhat undiscovered

[seb1]

I have friends who say here is lovely Shell bay

[jkklpu]

Isle of Arran

[Theonlyoneiknow]

Thanks! Will deffo have a look.

I stumbled across Harvest Moon Hols today too (near Dunbar), glamping looks good although not sure how I would cope with no electricity :)

www.harvestmoonholidays.com

[Theonlyoneiknow]

I would love to go to the Isle of Arran - have you stayed anywhere there? I looked at the resort place which looked ace but was sadly  !

[stargirl1701]

We have friends with a property there, sorry.

[CMP69]

Forest holidays lodges are fab. We stayed at Loch Long last year

[Hoppinggreen]

Northumbria Coast is lovely.

[Theonlyoneiknow]

Thanks for all the suggestions! We have taken lots of Uk hols but now have young DC looking for accommodation recommendations that would,be especially suited to under 5s?

We went to nNorthumberland the last two years and had fab time.

Have found some that come with toys and books, and where they can go egg collecting with the farmer and feed their animals but all seem to be in wales, Cornwall etc.

Will check out loch long too, thanks! Hadn't heard of forest hols

Has anyone stayed in similar but not so far south? We are in Aberdeen so thinking 5hrs drive max ? Maybe six.

[OwlMother]

Hendersyde

Look at the farm cottages, they're lovely. Nice gardens, on a small mixed farm, sheep, ducks etc to look at, tractors etc. Sue, who owns them, is lovely- a mine of local information, provider of eggs and rock buns. My children believe she is a long term family friend!! Not right on the coast but easy enough to get there, also handy for Alnwick, Ford and Etal (steam trains!) Edinburgh etc. We've been twice, have sent friends there, couldn't recommend more highly.

[MrsAmaretto]

Strathyre Forest through Forest Holidays/hoseason. We stayed in one with a hot tub.

Walks, bike hire, wee playground etc on site. Callander a few minutes drive with big playground, swimming pool. Blairdrummond Safari park 15-20mins, stirling 20-30mins

[Megrim]

We've stayed in a self-catering house in Ullapool before now - it's about 4 hours drive from Aberdeen, beaches are fabulous, food is good (especially if you like fresh seafood). We booked through Owners Direct.

[blueberrycupcake]

We've stayed at the Kilconquhar estate at the self-catering lodges. It's near Elie beach. My DD was 2 last year when we were there and she loved it. There is a swimming pool at the premises. They also have a kids club which we never went to so not sure what that's like. The kids can also do pony trekking there. We spent two day on the Elie beach. We were lucky with some amazing weather. We're going back again this summer.

[Theonlyoneiknow]

Thanks for all the suggestions! We have had lots of UK holidays but when they were babies so weren't too fussed about activities for them to do. Not that they are 4 and 2 having lots of activities nearby is a must!

megrim we have had about four hols near Ullapool and LOVE it. My Most favourite place in the whole world is Oldshoremore and Sandwood bay which are just up the road. Have you been?

[Megrim]

Love Achnahaird beach, and the one at Achmelvich too. It's quite a hike up to Sandwood, but a stunning drive. We head round to Loch Ewe as well, there's a lovely beach on the west side of the loch.

[tobiasfunke]

I would say Fife as well- Elie is very popular with holidaymakers and young families but anywhere on the East Neuk coast. There are a couple of self catering companies who specialise in this area and lots of cottages in Elie itself as plenty of rich Edinburghers have holiday homes there.
The weather is generally good being East Coast, and there is plenty to do for wee ones- (St. Andrews, Muddy boots at Cupar, Secret Bunker, swimming pool at Glenrothes and St Andrews, castles) and the beaches are fab. Also it's not that far into Edinburgh if you get bored- you can do the park n ride at the Forth Road Bridge.
I live in central scotland and we spent a fab long weekend in St Andrews with last year with my then 4year old DS.

East Lothian is also an option - Dunbar, North Berwick- beaches, East Links farm park, and close to both Edinburgh and the castles in Northumbria.

These two places tend to have naice farm shops and cafes, craft shops etc because they are within a couple of hours driving distance of Edinburgh.

We have done self catering at the Moray Coast, Loch Ness and Caithness in the last couple of years with our now 5 year old and although they are lovely there isn't quite so much to do with wee ones that doesn't require lots of driving.

I know the West Coast is beautiful but for us it is too unpredictable weather wise for kids plus I get eaten by the midges.

[Moid1]

We loved Peebles Hydro, lovely big hotel with lots of different activities, our boys were about 4 and 2 when we went there.

[tobiasfunke]

I read your Op again and didn't realise when I posted you'd include Yorkshire. The best holidays we ever had with DS when he was 2 and 3 was in N. Yorks . There were so many things to do around Scarborough and Whitby and further inland. Sandsend beach at Whitby is beautiful with a lovely cafe and quite a few self catering cottages there. We stayed near Pickering.
Our Ds needs entertained all the time so we have to do holidays where there is lots to do.

[Theonlyoneiknow]

Midgies love me too much too so cant consider west coast in mid summer :-(

These suggestions are all fab, thanks so much! I think we will head for Fife, N Yorks or East Lothian. And then dumfries and galloway later on in the year.

Those that recommend these area, would you have any accommodation that you liked?

Thanks again!

[SteadyEddie]

Came on the thread to say Kielder Forest in Northumberland, but there are so many fabulous suggestions!

[Alljoy]

Have you thought about Budle Bay Croft - lovely family friendly small holding near Bamburgh Beach on the unspoilt Northumberland coastline:
budlebaycroft.co.uk
Great reviews including some on mumsnet for the 2 cottages Budle Falls and Budle Haugh

[firstchoice]

I was going to say East Lothian / Northumberland too.
Easy to get to Edinburgh or Newcastle for museum fun if the weather is poor.
Amazing clean empty beaches if its good.
Dunbar / Berwick /Alnwick have good food shops, naice cafes, craft shops/activities.
All have good swimming pools too.
Castles, beaches, clean, empty, no midgies, what more could you ask???