Help me plan a trip to Scotland?

[Cocacolathanks]

Hello lovely Mumsnetters,

I want to make the most out of this good weather and get my kids out of the house. They are 3 and 5. Enjoy being outside and walking.

I want to drive up to Scotland and places like Aberdeen.

I would love some recommendations on places to visit, things to see, activities to do, even restaurants to try! Anything at all.

I wouldn’t mind a weekend or 3-4 days at most if there was a nice place to stay.

Tight budget (thanks Rishi) but want to make the most out of our time there. Spent too long stuck at home feeling depressed and really need a change.

Thank you SOOO much Mumsnet!

Bumping! I want to do the trip ASAP!

Where do you live? A weekend with a drive to Aberdeen might be overly unrealistic depending on your location.

I live in Yorkshire and it takes me about 5-6 hours to drive up to Scotland. I did it once to visit some friends but haven’t actually explored the area

Have you come across the Landmark center? That's a brilliant place to go and the area is great for kids, loads to do.

So I’m east coast Scotland and I’d say Lunan Bay Beach, near Montrose….just fantastic on a good day, Catterline Inn has lovely food, Stonehaven lovely, lido is fab if you’re there when it’s open. Also has a great chipper and ice cream shop down by the beach. Dunnottar castle nearby is great. All enroute to Aberdeen. Loads of lovely places to visit up in northeast. Easy Neuk of Fife gorgeous too, bit further south from Dundee. Come visit, it’s lovely here!!

Aviemore is a good spot, there are quite a few things nearby for kids - Highland Wildlife Park, Landmark adventure park etc and plenty of places for walking

Where are you driving from ? Aberdeen is a long way into Scotland and you might find you’d spend longer in a car than enjoying what Scotland has to offer.
3-4 days at most, I’d settle on one area within a reasonable driving distance. I love Edinburgh ( only city I’d ever live in) and Portobello for the beach.

East Neuk even!!

Of all the places in Scotland, you want to go to Aberdeen???

@VenezuelaChant 🤣

Aberdeen wouldn't be my first thought if I was planning a trip to Scotland I must admit. Nothing wrong with it, just millions of better places lol.

@VenezuelaChant no I was just giving an example of potential places, any alternatives would also be greatly appreciated! I’m clueless about the area

No offence to Aberdeen but its a long way and IMO a wee bit dull.

With a 3 and 5 year old I would suggest Balloch on Loch Lomond. Great for being outdoors, lots of activities including on the water and tons of great restaurants. Accommodation ranging from caravan parks to luxury hotels and everything in between.

Or the Galloway coast - again great for being outdoors and great activities for smaller children.

If you want to go to cities I would start with Edinburgh. Tons of museums that are free and very child friendly. Plus a castle, a palace and a volcano in the city centre. Restaurants galore.

Arran is really nice.

Agree with those questioning Aberdeen and also agree with Aviemore being a great choice.

You then have access to a wide range of activities; Landmark Centre, Speyside Railway, Cairngorm Funicular, dolphin trips (Inverness), RSPB Osprey forest place l, highland wildlife park, zip wires, Loch insh water sports and there is even an inland beach at Aviemore (Loch Morlich)

Other option closer to home is Arran or even Bute.

Include the Falkirk wheel & kelpies, if you can.

Not Aberdeen! It's so far up and it's a fairly boring city (I live here, lol).

If you're looking for a city go to Glasgow or Edinburgh. If you're looking for nature and rural-ness go to Dumfries and Galloway, Perthshire, or Argyll & Bute (although a bit longer away).

What about the moray coast Nairn, lossie etc some lovely beaches etc I wouldn’t go to Aberdeen either depressing - sorry - it used to be our closest city as a child and I never warmed to it. Otherwise some of the Fife coast is lovely Eli etc and not quite as far

This is a good website

www.kidsdaysout.co.uk/kids-days-out-scotland.html

East Coast is lovely.

Aberdeenshire area has stunning scenery. Aboyne, etc, lots of lovely farm type places to visit on the way up. East Neuk is lovely, but can be expensive, Dundee with the Urban Beach and V&A is a good place to stop, lovely beaches all the way up, Monifieth, Carnoustie all lovely little places to stop and take in some fresh sea air.

Edinburgh has loads to offer for kids. Loads of free museums, many of which have interactive child sections. Museum of childhood is fab. Edinburgh castle is lovely to see. Scots monument is great if you're okay with heights and mobility. Dynamos earth is great for kids. Camera obscura. Royal observatory. If you drive a little bit out there's also go ape too which is a zip line course etc and maybe 20 mins ish drive from city centre

Any particular tried and tested museums in Edinburgh? Going to google them now as you all mentioned them but I do prefer real-people recommendations!

Thank you all so far xxxx