Recommendations of where to stay in Scotland please

[SPARKLER1]

I have always fancied going to Scotland for a break. We are thinking about going in the school summer holidays. As it is such a long drive we shall probably do the journey in two phases. Drive for 4/5hours stay somewhere overnight and then on to Scotland the next day, then do the same thing returning home.
The only thing is, having never been to Scotland before, we haven't a clue where to stay.
Our priorites are obviously the children. If they are happy and entertained we will have a good time. So we will need somewhere suitable for dds who will be 4 and 7 at the time. Will probably look to stay in a holiday park.
Please could anyone recommend a place to visit?
Thanks.

It depends on what you want in the way of childcare and so on really I guess. We went when dd was 3 and ds was 7. The children's meals were quite flexible- lots of choice. Baby listening consists of the owner listening in to every room once every few minutes, so if your children are little it's worth asking for a room in the main house. The childcare was more activity based than most- no nannies, but afternoon sessions like a swimming gala, snowman building and so on; great for older kids but not really appropriate for toddlers.

Disclaimer: this was 4 years ago so things may have changed

that's interesting gf - so what is the set up for meals then? Bring your own monitor?

thanks. sounds like they are sorting out the baby listening. I have to say once my kids are old enough to be awake while we eat we will probably prefer to eat with them....

How interesting that they've changed hands- I just looked at the website too. It looks as though they are trying to appeal to adults the rest of the time now, doesn't it? Can't say it looked much like a "boutique" hotel to me, but it was very nice. It would be interesting to know how they feel about children eating in the dining room- I'm the same as you elliott, we prefer to eat together now the children are older. Woolley Grange has improved on that front over the years, they're very flexible now. We stayed at one place in the Highlands (now closed) that made a big thing of being child-friendly, but where children under about 12 were absolutely banned from the dining room . Fair enough not to want rampaging toddlers, but just so inflexible.

grumpyfrumpy, have you tried looking at a book called Scotland the Best? It's readily available in bookshops up here, and I would have thought in England too since Waterstones stock it. They have a section on child-friendly hotels. Ours is several years out of date but there are new ones out, I know. I would be tempted to go and look in a shop and see what they recommend without necessarily buying it... It's where I heard of Polmaily first of all.

I just had a look in our out-of-date copy and there's nothing else child-friendly near Loch Ness really. The closest is Glenfinnan House . Worth getting an up-to-date copy and trying there I think.

This is quite a good site if holidaying with children in Scotland

kids scotland

The Princes house hotel in Glenfinnan was excellent, very child friendly and the owners were fab. She was the ultimate hostess and he is an awarding winning chef. could recommend enough

fab

Hi gf Old Pines has closed, it was actually the place I was talking about below. Lovely food and very nice people but not very flexible with children. Moorings I don't know about, but be prepared for Fort William being a dump of a town (maybe you already know that, sorry). The area is wonderful though.

I've never been but it looks lovely. Someone must have surely

Come here . Great place for kids. Not far from Inverness and Loch Ness, and near Aviemore and all the other attractions mentioned earlier

And you could stay here which isn't far away, and has a soft play centre and other stuff.

Hi I haved stayed at the Hilton Coylumbridgeand it is good. The soft play bit is great for letting off steam and there are orgainised activities too, not sure what age, ours were a bit young then. I recomend the Ski-n-du (spelling?) on the main street Great atmosphere and kids love it too.

The main street is a bit desolate without the snow but Aviemore is a great base for exploring. Agree Landmark centre is good as is the highland safari park at Kingussie, don't miss the extra walks once you are out of the car, more animals too see.

The soft play is great isn't it...and even for bigger kids - I think they allow up to age 12. Landmark is brilliant, and now there is even more stuff for big kids and adults like this high up rope course

Here is the website

The fun house

Someone elses reveiw
"As for facilities for young kids - they will not be bored. They had entertainment all day if required and a seperate FUN HOUSE with a large soft play, climbing frame area and mini golf (both of which you had to pay for but were discounted for residents) , th epool area is excellent also. There was entertainment at night for the kids like a childrens disco and at the high tea they had a clown blowing up ballons etc. Really, if you have kids this place is the best. We used to go to Crieff Hydro alot for weekend breaks but this is much better - do not hestitate - go and you will have a great time and so will the kids."

We have also stayed in self catering luxury houses which i prefer.