Nice place within couple of hours of central belt of Scotland - with teens

[OneMagnumisneverenough]

I'm looking for somewhere nice to go for a night or two in the Summer for my big birthday.....only we have two teenage boys that we'll have to take with us as we can't leave them yet and nowhere else for them to be.

Don't want anything too astronomical (about £500 max for all of us) but something a bit special where we can be comfortable and boys will be fine.

I don't like Spa type things such as massage etc and don't feel too comfortable with overly posh - just somewhere nice with good food and something to do with teenagers .

Might be a big ask though :(

We can't go abroad as DH refusing at the moment (pain in the arse).

Would consider a city break further away if convenient for the train.

Help! :)

[3nationsfamily]

Crieff hydro? Lots of on site activities like Segway and high ropes to keep the teens occupied, but nice hotel and lovely area for walks etc for grown ups too

[OneMagnumisneverenough]

Thanks 3nations, we've done crieff hydro a few times. Once pre kids and a couple of times when they were younger. I like the hotel and facilities but I'm never very impressed with the food. I suppose we could eat out but that doesn't really appeal and there isn't too much in Crieff anyway. I'll definitely consider it though. It did however remind me about the Auchrannie - food there used to be nice but no idea if it still is.

[AgentProvocateur]

What about Edinburgh (unless you live there!) and going to The Kitchin for lunch, then the underground tour at night v

[SauvignonPlonker]

Auchrannie in Arran?
St Andrews?

[GiveMyHeadPeaceffs]

Aviemore? Lots of outdoor activities there and close to Inverness for any shopping

[OneMagnumisneverenough]

Thanks Agent, I'm from Edinburgh but don't currently live there and I have had a quick look to see if there was any good deals at some of the fancier hotels - it's certainly my back up option at the moment :) It's a bit of a dilemma really as it would be nice to have our own rooms instead of doing what we usually do in the Premier Inn etc and all squeeze in together - but that makes it expensive, some of the places have a separate bunk room for the kids, but they aren't really kids and are 6 foot plus so bunk beds aren't great. I'm not happy about leaving a 15 and 14 year old on their own overnight even if we aren't that far away as we will be drinking and wont be able to hop in a car home.

Hmm, and apart from that I'd like to share my birthday with them, not exclude them.

[OneMagnumisneverenough]

Auchrannie definitely a possibility. I've never stayed in St Andrews, any suggestions?

We've done Aviemore quite a bit as we used to have family in the area and the boys loved the Coylumbridge - it just feel a bit ordinary somehow - I know I am being a pain btw and all your suggestions so far are great :)

[SauvignonPlonker]

I've stayed at the Fairmont, it's a bit out of town though. There's also the Old Course (very pricey though) & Rusacks (never stayed there).

Itison always has hotel deals - and 5pm.com / might be worth a look for ideas?

[OneMagnumisneverenough]

Thanks sauvingnon a bit of web-surfing on the cards tonight.

[hilbil21]

How much does there need to be for the teens to do? There's a lovely place called portavadie marina but it might be a bit boring for them X

[OneMagnumisneverenough]

Doesn't need to be too much, just something we can do during the day for a few hours - we've visited Portavadie years ago as a friend has a holiday cottage near there. it was February and freezing but beautifully sunny and completely empty beach nearby. I'll have a wee look, thank you :)

[OneMagnumisneverenough]

Portavadie sold out for that weekend.

[celtiethree]

Take a look at Loch Insh. If u stay for 2 nights watersports are included. I've not been but a friend has and really enjoyed it.

[weebarra]

I stayed with DH recently at Rusacks, was very nice. Not an awful lot to do in St Andrews though, DH and I were without kids so spent the day in the St. Andrews brewing co!

[Danglyweed]

The borders? Peebles? Go ape and glentress for biking?

[slicedfinger]

Have you had a look at AirBnB for Edinburgh? Choices may be limited if you are landing in Festival time, but worth a look.

[slicedfinger]

Or how about the Lake District? Go Ape/boat hire/mountain bike hire? If you rented somewhere near Ambleside e.g. there is stuff that's walkable in the evening too.

[hilbil21]

Forest hills?

[OneMagnumisneverenough]

We are away to the Lakes next week....and again for our summer hols so I'm going to eliminate that this time :)

AirBnB a possibility - it's not festival time :) It's middle of June so schools still in etc so that's why we don't want to go too far as we'll still have school/work on the friday and Monday.

Peebles are we know well as Dhs side from there, we've stayed at Glentress before. definitely consider a different borders place though.

Fairmont only seems to do doubles or double/double rooms, the boys wont share a bed and it's £500+ a room a night! - Rusacks says we need to book 2 rooms - a child stops at 12 and that over £500 a room for 2 nights though so one night would be about manageable - but still need food on top and that's just a basic room.

They had a deal for the Scotsman hotel on itison but that ends in May but worth keeping an eye out.

Just away to look at Loch Insh.

[OneMagnumisneverenough]

Loch Insh looks good but more something we would do for a normal break and maybe not special enough? Ahhhggghh - I know I'm a pain, i'm not sure exactly what I want.

A bit of luxury but not too posh as I don't really have dressy up type of clothes. Ideally 2 rooms, something to do for a few hours during the day and nice food (with hopefully some plain options for fussy teenagers) The more I think the more I'm thinking that a city would be good as we could mooch about during the day and DH and I could go for fancy meal and let DSs go for a pizza and back to the hotel for wifi :o We could then have a nice cooked breakfast together. I don't know

[JapanNextYear]

What about Newcastle, some nice places to stay - lots to do for teenagers. We stayed in the Malmaison with kids (left it too late to book anywhere else) and it was good - if rather dark inside!

Stuff to do if its raining as well.

There's also nice hotels in Jesmond.

[hilbil21]

What dates you looking for?

[OneMagnumisneverenough]

Forest Hills is only half an hour or so away but does come up in budget, I'll have a wee browse.

[OneMagnumisneverenough]

it would be weekend of 11th/12th. If not too far we could get there on the 10th for 2 nights. That's what is putting me off the Auchrannie as we'd have to time it with the Ferry and it would be really late getting there on the Friday night but I equally don't fancy getting the ferry at the crack of dawn to make it worthwhile going.

We did Newcastle but very budget in Holiday Inn Express so would look at that for more luxury - or anywhere down the Northumberland coast, though that does make it decent drive.

[OneMagnumisneverenough]

11th/12th of June I should say.