Scotland holiday recommendations please

[angrysue42]

Thinking of going to a coastal part of Scotland this summer for a family holiday with primary age dc and a baby. Seems preferable to attempting a plane journey. I wondered if anyone has any recommendations for family areas, things to do etc. thank you

Stonehaven near Aberdeen. East coast so sunny no midgies. Outdoor lido, beach and harbour. Castles to visit nearby and Aberdeen City of big cinemas if needed.

East Neuk of Fife.

I agree its gorgeous we used to caravan there when the kids were young.

Is this west coast? Sorry I'm rubbish at geog lol. I've seen that some of the little islands off the west coast are beautiful but I don't know if there's much there.

St Andrew’s, North Berwick, Elie, Stonehaven, Portpatrick, Morar, Troon all lovely.

Arran would also work and possibly Cumbrae

The West Coast is beautiful but in summer has midges!
We did the Moray Firth Coast last summer, pretty villages, nice beaches, (check out Findochty or Cullen) you can go along to Loch Ness from there, see Culloden. You would need a car though.

West coast is lovely but the midgies can make it unbearable. It’s usually fine if there’s a breeze and on the beach but forget sitting out in the garden on a warm evening!

east coast is safer midge-wise and often drier but doesn’t have the classic Scottish landscape of rolling hills and glens.

What sort of holiday do you want? Active? Biking hiking etc?

beaches? History?

nice towns and cafes to potter in?

leisure centres/activities if the weather turns?

city break with lots to see and do?

Just a relaxing one really. Nice beaches and views. Things to do for the kids - leisure centres etc. Nice walks and good cafes/pubs/restaurants but all family friendly obviously. We have two primary age dc and a baby to keep occupied!

Never knew about the midges.

Also read that the Isle of Mull is very pretty.

If you haven't experienced the Scottish midges it's hard to oversell the impact!! I used to wonder why so many people walk around West Coast wearing Hazmat suits but it's real. West Coast is really beautiful, Oban, Hebridean Islands but East Coast less midgey. East Neuk of Fife villages or Nth Berwick brilliant fun. Lots of stuff to do, stunning beaches, campsites, holiday parks, food is epic!!

.I live in Scotland midges are not everywhere although yes rife on the west cost.

Ardnamurchan peninsula. Still a bit of a hidden gem as it's not on the NC500 and it's amazing, really weird cool geology. Although attached to the mainland it has the same look and feel as the islands you can see clearly from it. Stunning beaches like Sanna Bay.

Isle of Bute on the west coast. Easy to get to (half hour ferry trip) lots of beaches and Mount Stuart house is a great place to visit, good for cycling and walking, not too hilly.

The Isle of Barra is gorgeous. You can land on the beach in a plane if you are adventurous. There is plenty to do during the Feis, and the people are lovely. There is a castle in the middle of the bay at Castlebay and a little boat to take you there. The beaches are amazing and usually deserted.

One tiny caveat, if you are going to need to take a ferry on the West coast just now, you might need to allow a margin for ferries being cancelled/delayed/on fire/abducted by aliens.

If you want to go out to the Islands Skye is accessible and plenty to do, you could also get the ferry up to south Uist. It depends how far you want to travel?

otherwise I’d suggest Ayrshire/Arran/Mull of kintyre. Fabulous beaches (google machrahanish) plenty to do, not so far to drive from England if you get the boat at Ardrossan and the kids would enjoy the ferry rides

if the classic Scottish scenery isn’t too important then east Neuk of fife is nice with decent beaches and fishing villages and close enough to Perth Pitlochry and Stirling.

If you’re happy with more travel then Oban and Mull are fabulous

Agree Barra is lovely. Not masses to do though if it rains with smallies though

Is this for this summer 2023 or next year?

If it’s this year good accommodation will be getting booked up by now especially for the summer school holidays. I wouldn’t wait any longer before booking.

Where are you starting from?
On a map it doesn't look like the islands are far from the Central Belt of Scotland, but to give you an example it takes 6 hours from Bristol to the south of Glasgow (a good run , sharing driving and just one stopfor 15th minutes) , but it can be another 6 hours to Tobermory on the Isle of Mull, especially if you misjudge the ferry times, get stuck behind a tractor, surrounded by sheep, have to reverse miles back for a passing place (A roads are generally single track).

@angrysue42

How about Ayr, on west coast?

Approx 1h 30 for ferry to Arran, <1hr to Glasgow.

Lots to do for children too

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attractions-g186574-Activities-zft11306-Ayr_South_Ayrshire_Ayrshire_Scotland.html

I was going to suggest Ayr, there's the Heads of Ayr Farm Park (http://www.headsofayrfarmpark.co.uk/) which is great for kids wet or dry; the midges aren't bad at all by the coast and you can easily get to other places for a day trip. You could easily find a static caravan to book if you're struggling for a hotel type thing. Arran is great for a mooch about and there's the castle with a great play area - although so is Culzean Castle south of Ayr. Also nice restaurants about too!

To dip your toe in the water of Scottish islands you could stay in oban and take day trips to Mull, Iona, Staffa and kerrera. That way if it's too much for the kids you haven't committed the whole week on an island but if you get a taste for it you can come back and stay on an island when baby is a little bigger.

I adore the Hebrides and also Shetland and Orkney but they aren't for everyone so see how you get on.

Barra’s beautiful but not the best with littlies. Islay’s got a bit more to offer, maybe even the Uists.

The moray firth /cairngorm area is beautiful. We stayed in Aviemore but you could go nearer the coast. We saw dolphins in the wild feeding close to the shore which was amazing. Beautiful countryside and walks etc but also highland wildlife park (zoo) and a theme park that's name I've forgotten (oaklands?) for some more kid orientated days out.

dont bother!