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!

There were quite a few hotel offers in Scotland on Groupon last time I looked. Why don't you check them out, see if there's anything available at the right time? You could also check out a website called Cottages & Castles. I've used it to book a self catering week in the inner Hebrides for September.

Oban could be a good place to base yourself and accommodation is cheaper and more plentiful than the surrounding areas. It's also lovely there!

Good luck, OP.

Thanks to everyone who has posted. After all your positive encouragement we did start to think again about driving (more of a pain for us drivers than for the DCs), but now we've bitten the bullet and booked the train from Kings Cross to Inverness - £273 for the 4 of us with a F&F railcard (thanks to the pp for that suggestion!).

Now we just need to hire a car (probs £200-300) and work out where we're going to stay. It's looking likely that we'll hit four figures by the time we've done that, but at least we'll arrive a bit fresher and gain some quality time too.

Hoping for good weather so we can get the DCs up Ben Nevis!

rentalcars (a comparison site) has cars for half that for a week in May from Inverness - will cost more once you add an extra driver.
Hope you've a great time.

I wouldn't go as far as Fort William. It's not that nice a town and always crowded. Ben Nevis can be covered in clouds and you never see the top for days. I would go up the east coast, drive up the A1 and go to Edinburgh, Stirling and the Trossachs are a great introduction to Scotland loads to see and do for teens too. East Lothian coast is nice and Seaton Sands is there so can stay at a Haven cheapish and can get into Edinburgh by bus. The forth railway bridge and some of the lovely little fife coastal villages are great too.

We used to drive it in one day when it was just the two of us. Good places to break the journey are Hamilton services travelodge or whatever it is, or Killington Lake on the M6. It's not like your DC are too young to sit still!

Also on the 2nd day pause in Callendar for ice creams and stretch legs.

I take it camping isn't on the cards? There are thousands of cottages and caravans in Scotland, there must be something. Loads of caravan parks up by Gairloch maybe?

Forest Holidays in Strathyre have some availability but they are improbaby expensive!

Late availabity cottages here anything suitable?

Do they like walking/climbing/biking or do they need entertainments? Aviemore is a bit more family friendly with the resort place. Or you could do a bit of a road trip for a day or two further west.

We stayed in some lovely places with air bnb - booked late too. Have a fab time, Scotland is beautiful.

I agree, Scotland is not cheap for family rooms alas. Even at hostels. Ouch. Travelodge and Premier Inn were cheaper than hostels in the towns where they exist. Except Fort William. They obviously have a never ending supply of punters there.

We stayed at McDonald Cabins in Kinlochleven. Just two bunk beds in a cabin. Really close to Glen Coe and Ben Nevis. It was our second attempt to see both these places. Suffice to say, we need to go for a 3rd attempt at some time in the future... thanks Scottish weather

@speakout I've camped in Scotland loads of times, in torrential rain and sunshine, with kids and without, and always had a blast. Fair enough it's not for everyone and maybe OP's family wouldn't be keen, but it's not automatically a miserable experience

Myother if you have the right attitude it will be good but it can be pretty miserable if you have torrential rain and midgies too which is very often the case.

I’d stay at a caravan park we stay at one in fort William and drive as you need a car up there it’s so remote

Yep don’t forget the midge repellent. The coast isn’t too bad bad but in other areas it’s a nightmare

MyotherUsernameisaPun each to their own.

Camping in a muddy field with kids in Scotland is not my idea of fun.

OP remember if the weather is bad ( and a good chance it will be) everything becomes far more expensive.
Hiking up hills and walking though forests is lovely , but not is it is cold and raining horizontally.

OP remember if the weather is bad ( and a good chance it will be) ...

Well, yes, but if we thought like that we'd never go would we? It's taken me a few years to persuade DH as it is!

Fingers crossed for good weather. I don't want my DCs growing up never seeing Scotland, but I don't want them growing up thinking Scotland is all mist and midges either like I did.

You can cross your fingers for good weather- but don't expect it. And have plenty contingencies.

Good weather may happen but the chances are not great.

Which is why I wouldn't spend our precious fortnight a year holidaying in Scotland.

You can hire a boat to go between Inverness and fort William rather than the car.

Am not sure when your half term is but midges are unlikely until June. And it's been so cold - heavy frost - recently that I'd not be surprised if they were a bit late this year.

Would recommend warm and waterproof clothes, however. And sunglasses/sunscreen. I've needed both within the past 10 days.

Genuinely, have fun!

Interesting post and replies!

Try faskally caravan site. I know someone who has been. The location is fab, the site itself has a pool, bar, park etc. It’s in Perthshire

faskally.campmanager.com/Availability.asp

If you’re going from Inverness do the NC500 it’s stunning! The car hire place I used was based int he ship centre right next to the train station, sure it was Eurocar?

Have stayed at Faskally camp site, it's not half bad