To think a budget-break in Scotland at half term is a pipe dream?

[HavinAThink]

I grew up in the north-east, so we holidayed in Scotland just as often as we ventured South. Now I live in London, with two DCs, aged 11 and 14, who have been to various other European countries, but never to Scotland. We'd love to take them to Fort William, Ben Nevis, Loch Ness at half term.

The driving option looks like a nightmare, even if we stayed over with relatives in the north-east along the way. The overnight train is fully booked. We have found some flights we could stretch to, but then we'd need car hire, hotels etc, and at first browse they're not looking particularly budget-friendly.

Am I kidding myself that this will be do-able on a 3-figure budget? There must be some of you out there who make the trip regularly - please send me your recommendations and tips!

Booking.com has lots of holiday homes for around £500 I’m the Oban area which is about an hour from fort William.

Yea I don't see teens going for fishing villages and "views" they want activities.

But I agree on the driving - it won't kill them! Train is super expensive these days, flights are cheaper but airports aren't necessarily near where you want to be. My dad was army and we're originally scots and so we did a couple of journeys a year by car inc from about as far south in uk as you can get! And in one day too. Pre tablets etc too

Take breaks for food/loo every few hours in the car they'll be fine playing games/puzzles or watching films (wish we coulda done that we were ltd to car games, card games, wordsearches and reading with the occasional singalong).

I do think expecting any holiday for 3 with 3 figures is unrealistic. Even camping/caravanning for a week isn't that cheap especially if you're inc spending money.

Have some contingency plans for bad weather. Outdoor stuff is great but good weather in a Scottish summer cannot be relied on, it will be cold and wet.
Which is why I prefer Greece.

Drive and camp once you get to Scotland. You can keep the equipment in your car.

Break it up with an occasional Airbnb. It won’t be so bad if you break it up. Plus, some of the best conversations I’ve had are when I’ve been ‘stuck’ in a car.

I would drive, and leave London after the rush hour the night before. We used to leave about 6ish from Luton and get to Glasgow around midnight. Maybe stay there and have a few hours in Glasgow then drive further up the next day.

And yes I'd go for Aviemore as there's loads to do and Loch Ness is an easy drive. We usually rent through Great North Lodges or there's also Cairngorm Apartments.

There are some nice hotels not far from fort William, just over the corran ferry in strontian. If you don't mind bunkhouses the Ariundle centre is lovely and I think less than £20 a night, self catering and a café/restaurant attached. Right in the middle of nature walks, suitable for all ages (I've been before and loved it)
You do have to pay £8 for the ferry but it's still a saving on the big hotels.

I wouldn't bother with Fort William but that's because I hatedthe drive there and it was pouring the one time I've been 😀

camp once you get to Scotland

I am laughing at this.

There will be an 80% chance of constant rain. Having a "holiday " under a piece of fabric with two teenagers in a muddy field.

Or AI in Kos....mmmm let me think.

Plus, some of the best conversations I’ve had are when I’ve been ‘stuck’ in a car.

600 miles and 10 hours.

Sounds a blast.

Wow that's a long drive. My dad lives in Fort William, I'm in North Yorkshire and I still break the drive up overnight so it's only 3 hours a day.

I couldn't do it all in one go.

Suggest you try unique-cottages.co.uk. They have some great places to stay and cheaper than some other companies.

I would probably drive to borders/ glasgow stay over and then do the rest the next day. I have done Fort William to London in a day on my own but I was a lot younger!

Or you could fly to glasgow and get a hire car from arnold clark in south street who are cheaper. A bit of a faff because I don't think they are at the airport but they used to be cheaper than others.

I think it's possible on your budget.

I think a week for four people for less than a grand is maybe a pipe dream. If you include everything. Sorry. Best bet is probably to fly to glasgow and hire a car. Flights around £100pp car hire £30/day you’re at £600 already then seven(?) nights accommodation in two rooms... looking at another £600 I think even if you bargain hunt.

Give us your dates and we’ll tell you if it’s do-able. No way touring round, but possibly on a self catering place you can tour from.

museumum exactly.

I am Scottish, live in Scotland.
As a family we have had several holidays in Scotland.
Scotland is expensive. Bad weather means indoor activities.

I would fly stansted to Glasgow or Edinburgh with Ryanair or easyJet. Then hire a car.

There’s loads to do on the West Coast- you could take the road to Mallaig and camp/stay in Camusdarach which is beautiful.

Or get the ferry from ardrossan to Arran which has loads to do.

Don’t try to do too much or go too far.

And Scotland is not cheap.

We're in Glasgow and drive to Cornwall - similar distance and the kids cope, and they're younger than yours. Definitely do-able in a day with an early start, or breaking the journey in Newcastle is perfect. Also agree that if you're heading for the Loch Ness area you will need a car.

Aviemore is a good shout for active kids but other places like Fort Augustus are lovely too.

Google suggests half term is W/c 26 may.

Near Inverness £500

Aviemore £530. I’ve stayed in this one once!

I’d go Aviemore and drive. Good roads all the way. Once you get there there’s loads to do in the vicinity, and you can day trip to Fort William and Inverness/Loch Ness.

Re:driving from London - it’s a bloody long way. It really is.

Aviemore is the one place you can have a Scottish scenery holiday without a car. Have a look at trains - you can taxi/bus/walk/cycle pretty much everywhere in that area and with kids 11&14 you don’t need to worry about them needing a carry 😂

There’s one direct Virgin train from London (Kings cross I’m guessing) to Inverness a day. Gets into Aviemore early evening? Coming back it’s early morning from Aviemore.

Piffpaffpoff An 8 hour journey and costs £180.
Cheaper to fly to Kos.

Piffpaffpoff, you've got my singing that now and wanting to rewatch 'the high life' again ;)

Someone mentioned Arran, but I think it is just so busy nowadays that you'd need to prebook. The ferries are cheaper than they used to be so the islands are really pretty busy now (as are so many places because of Outlander/the £ etc)

We're doing this exact holiday at half term - sleeper train from London to Fort William, then staying a few days near Loch Ness and a few on Skye. I am super excited! But it really is far from a budget option. The sleeper train alone was £600 for the four of us, and then car hire is nearly £300 (by the time you've added car seats, additional driver etc). So nearly into 4 figures before accommodation. I know we could have flown somewhere hot for rather less and I'm mentally preparing myself for it to rain all day every day. I'm still very excited though.

When I was a kid we used to go to the Highlands every year but we would drive - normally we'd leave at about 8pm and get as far as a travelodge north of Birmingham, then set off at 5am the next day and arrive late afternoon. I just can't face it until my kids are a fair bit older than they are now!

Yes, I didn’t say that bit was cheap.

I love The High Life. I’ll be singing the songs all day now....

Look at getting a cottage in the trossachs. Beautiful scenery, lots to do. Have driven from black country to there in 7 hours ( with loo, food stops). If you head west and go up the m6 traffic is minimal after Manchester. Got to Glasgow in 5 hours doing that route as well. Avoid the A1