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

We are just back from Laide in the west and it's a dream destination

Theme park was Landmark Forest Adventure Park.

St Andrews has lots of what you're looking for. A beach, cathedral ruins, leisure centre, sea life centre (haven't been!), cafes/restaurants/ice cream, lots of different beaches within easy driving distance, Scottish deer centre, Cairnie fruit farm. St Andrews is east coast. Lots of caravan parks

If you are willing to be inland, the aviemore area is beautiful and has lots of child friendly activities. Several companies offer lodges, though we book a caravan privately through booking.com. Do take insect repellent!!! But its beautiful, moray firth not far (dolphins and seals). Unless you are hardy I would chose a complex with a heated pool for swimming and take wetsuits for outdoor water based activities (we sea kayak)

We never have an issue with availability but don't travel in the school holidays. It's pretty quiet in September, maybe someone could comment on school holidays (Scottish ones overlap but not completely)

Scottish schools generally go back mid August so the last week in August should be a bit quieter.

The islands are having a lot of issues with ferries at the moment and there doesn’t seem to be any prospect of it ending anytime soon, something to keep in mind.

Midges are mentioned on every single thread about Scotland as if you will be eaten alive the second you cross the border. They either go for you or they don’t come near you and there’s only one way to find out which it will be. I’m in a place mentioned up thread as being bad for them they never touch me. Husband on the other hand get swarmed by them in seconds.

Yes and no one ever mentions the Smidge or other repellents! (sorry I see you did upthread @gogohmm ) The only time it was really bad for us was on a trip to Skye... but we didn't go far because it was swarming with tourists!

School holidays are mid June to mid August.

I live on one of the Uists and there's naff all to do here! Our kids are fairly low maintenance though and when we took them to Barra they always had a great time. Also, every Barrach I ever met told me that it NEVER rains on Barra. Is that not true?😝

loads of places have smidge killing machines now. They look like patio heaters.worth checking before you book.

End of june* sorry

Not the best time to be visiting Ardnamurchan currently, with the Corran ferry out of action.

@Whisper23 I didn't know about that. Yes hell of a drive otherwise.

Agree with pp, stick to East coast in summer to avoid midges. East Neuk of Fife is lovely as already mentioned or North Berwick area. Lots of lovely beaches and walks in both places, nice cafes, etc. Good range of day trips possible from both places.

Most Scottish schools will be back around week beginning 14th August so travelling after that would be quieter!

If this is what you’re after then I would avoid the islands and most of the highlands to be honest, although Inverness area/Aviemore would be fine.

East Neuk of Fife is probably the best option, there’s lots to do and it’s easy to get to. Troon and North Berwick also good.

I live on the west coast and we're not bothered with midges! I know further north seems to be but not here!!

What about Troon? Has a couple of lovely beaches with play parks and has a nice indoor swimming pool and other things for kids to do. The fishing harbour is famous for seal spotting and there are so many amazing restaurants and cafes.
Can easily get to soft play or drive to Culzean Castle or Heads of Ayr farm park for a couple of days out. You could drive south to Girvan and sail over to Ailsa Craig (big lump of rock in the middle of the sea!! It's where they get the marble from for curling stones.)
You could also drive north to Ardrossan and get the ferry over to Arran for a day - or even more! You will see Arran from Troon.
Also easy to drive to Largs where you can get the ferry over to Cumbrae where you can hire bikes and cycle round the island, explore the crocodile rock etc. Largs has a Viking centre, swimming pool and a stony beach so can spend hours throwing stones in the water! Again lots of fab places to eat and it's famous for ice cream.

Can get a train through to Glasgow where there are loads of free museums and lots of places to explore.

I think Bute is the most child friendly island. It has lovely beaches, cafes, castle, leisure center and isn't hilly. But it still doesn't have a lot of attractions.
The mainland coast is going to have more activity options.
It really does depend on what you are looking for.

We took dc to outer Hebrides for a holiday when they were small, weather was bad and options limited. Even on the nice days we weighted down the sun tent with boulders to make a wind shelter.

I grew up on a Scottish island so was prepared, just don't expect good weather. The scenery is stunning for adults and the beaches great for kids.

You can fly Glasgow to tiree, 50min flight. Hire a car. Only 12 by 6 miles. Plenty beaches and views. A playpark but otherwise you make your own fun with beach trips, pony treks, watersports at loch, more beach trips! Places to eat out. Boat trips too. 2023 will be booked up though!

Mull will be booked up already - as will most of the Scottish Islands.
If you want spectacular scenery and are prepared to brave the rain and midgies go for the West Coast. It’s a ver special place that will steal your heart . But go North of Ayrshire which isn’t that great.
If you want pretty villages, amenities and fewer midgies go for the East coast. Not nearly so spectacular in terms of scenery but more likely to have better weather .Fife and St Andrews are pretty with lots of great restaurants. The Moray coast has lovely beaches and you can go dolphin watching. Findhorn is great .
Another possibility often forgotten about is Dumfries and Galloway. Usually better weather . A bit stuck in the past but in good weather can be really pretty and is quieter and easy to get to . The Kippford area is great
https://www.coastalkippford.com/

We've stayed in Oban in apartments overlooking Mull (no outdoor space though) and at Loch Awe Holiday Park (nice hot tub lodges) on the West Coast. Did Mull by ferry one year. We were foot passengers to Mull and bought a day bus ticket to get around. That said last year, we found it harder to get the tickets organised so just stayed in Oban and Loch Awe instead. And by the sounds of it, the ferries are having problems.

Been to Grannies Heilan Hame twice which is near Embo on the North East coast, the beaches are second to none, bearing in mind I live within reach of the Northumberland coast, I think they are as good if not better. DC were able to run wild and we had a beach tent to shelter in.

Unless I was staying in Oban itself, I'd want a car for day trips. We did a Seafari on the West Coast once, incredible sea wildlife tour. Visited Staffa around 20 years ago to see Fingals Cave and the puffins. Also drove up to John O Groats from Embo.

I'd still like to go back to visit Skye and Iona. Never really had an issue with midges but we haven't stayed too close to water.

I like the Black Isle. Rosemarkie beach is great to explore, lots of rockpools but still enough sand and has a lovely cafe right on the beach plus caves if you walk far enough. The Black Isle is also one of best places to see dolphins. It's close enough to Inverness for the swimming pool and Whin Park (in Inverness) is great in the summer for kids, boating lake, variety of playparks and ice cream.

We live just down the coast from Stonehaven, St Cyrus beach is lovely and I like Kinnaber beach just north of Montrose as well. Lots of castles reasonably close (Dunnottar just above the town, Crathes and Drum inland), the lido in Stonehaven as well as an indoor swimming pool. Charleton fruit farm by Montrose for its strawberry tarts (or apple strudel).

East Neuk of Fife - Elie/St Andrews etc is beautiful.

Isle of Arran is also nice I haven’t been for a few years but its like going back in time.

How about the the Galloway part of Dumfries and Galloway no midges here, miles of stunning coast line, very peaceful and quiet and unspoilt as low tourist footfall, lots of outside activities walking cycling water sports stunning scenery river lochs moorland hills pasture and forestry. Its often described as "Scotland in miniature", or "Scotlands forgotten corner".
The weather isn't great on the west side we do get a lot of rain and mist but we are on the gulf stream so its meant to be warmer and probably less of a biting wind that the east side. But then no one comes on holiday to Scotland for the weather.

@kessiebird 19 years ago went to Loch Awe with my then-a-baby DS - we had to leave early because of the midges 😱 he had no hair and every time we went outside his poor wee head was covered!

We have been back since but it was February so midge free - such a beautiful place!