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.

there is a small place called girvan a really quite town with ok shops, right on the beach lots of nice scenery and its not far from ayr where they have a farm park cinema etc

Really homesick reading Miaous posts. I lived near Ardgour / strontian and it is certainly one of the most stunning parts of Scotland. I still have family there and was there for New Year and visited friends in Ardgour and Strontian!

I probably know Miaou but not too sure.

Sorry have to say I wouldn't pick Girvan for a holiday. Ayrshire is lovely but I would go for a caravan park or something along the coast but not anything right in Girvan. Its not what it used to be.

we (3 children)travel twice a year by car from southampton to a little village on the east coast.it takes us roughly eight hours with a couple of stops. i have some friends that drive up to yorkshire and stop there for the night then travel on the next morning. i think you would have to stop over somewhere if your thinking about going as far up as tobermory. edinburgh is a good base you have loads to see and do within a easy driving distance. one thing i would say was our god send, an in car dvd player ,didn't hear a peep out of them for the first three hours

oooh funnygirl - just seen this! I wonder if we have met? We have only lived in Ardgour for just under a year but have met a fair few folk since we moved here. I bet we know people in common anyway!

Grumpyfrumpy, I had to find this thread and bump it- I owe you an apology. The new Scotland the Best is out, and Old Pines has re-opened under new management, but is still listed as child-friendly.

Hi Grumpyfrumpy, we have been to the Hilton Coylumbridge 3 or 4 times in the past 3 years, with the latest time being last Easter. I can vouch for the fact that it is very child friendly. The pools are very nice, although the family pool is around 90cm deep throughout ? just a bit too deep for non-swimming under-5s. There are usually inflatable balls and small floats there to play with, as well as a slide. There are usually family activities organised for a couple of hours during the day - treasure hunts, football, giant jenga etc. There are high teas provided for the kids between 4.30pm-6.00pm, with a lot of choice. These usually take place in the function suite, and there is often entertainment provided depending on what's on later e.g. clown making balloon animals, tabletop magician, disco music with disco lights etc.. Later there are organised activities for over 4's - usually 6-7pm and 7-8pm sessions. DD (now 7) has done arts & crafts, mini-golf, quizzes, parachute games, a happy hour in the Fun House, amongst others. There are other sessions of things like water polo organised for older children (over 7's). All of these activities can be signed-up for in the foyer and are free. Under 5's can be booked into the creche for an hour or so in the evening. (I have never done this, so can't give you any info, although I know you have to pay.) You are allowed to take children into the main dining room in the evening although you pay a supplement if it is after 7.00pm (I think). However, there are always lots of children. A children's menu is available in there, although DD has sometimes just come to sit with us and have a drink of orange juice when she had high tea then didn't fancy the organised activity ! There is usually some form of family entertainment on in the evening 7-8pm but under-8s have to be accompanied. We have been to a magic show, a disco, a kid's musical session organised by the folk singer whose group was appearing in the evening etc.. There is also usually some more adult entertainment available later on. The bar is on a small raised area in the large foyer (adult only) but there are lots of sofas and coffee tables for families to sit and drink and chat. As well as the main restaurant there is a smaller bistro, which also has a counter in the foyer selling snacks, coffees etc.. This has become a bit longer than I expected, and I haven't even touched on things to do in the area, but I hope it helps!

Peebles Hydro is worth looking at and lots of beautiful scenery nearby and a short distance from Edinburgh and Glasgow. Also stayed at Houston House, Uphall near Edinburgh a couple of times, - child friendly but not as child friendly as Peebles.