August trip to Scotland - advice needed!

[Badgerwife]

My sister, her partner and their 4 year old are planning to go to Scotland for 3 weeks in August.

They would like to know what's unmissable, helpful addresses (restaurants / hotels etc)...

They are thinking of doing 3 days/2 nights in Edinburgh, 2 days in Glasgow, and then hire a car because they want to do some walking and enjoy the views. Their boy is bringing his bike. Her big question is apart from Edinburgh and Glasgow, what is interesting and doable in 3 weeks without it being manic every day, bearing in mind they don't want to travel more than 2 hours a day by car otherwise the kid blows a gasket.

Oh and about midges, is there really an infestation?

I would help but I've never been so I am asking the good people of Mumsnet in desperation!

cannot comment on anything other than edinburgh - national museum is good and free! well worth a look, if they like italian then vittoria restaurant is good (they have three altogether), food is fantastic - we eat in the one near grey friers bobby statue on the bridge - must book to guarantee a table.

we went to Ayr a couple of years ago but it isnt like it used to be and i am not sure how far it is from glasgow, There was quite a wind on the seafront as well so made it feel colder. we did drive about an hour up the road to a small town which was quite pretty

Jumpers, thick socks, water proofs, warm jeans and more jumpers.

But the Glasgow Science Cente should go down very well with a 4 year old boy.

Glasgow Green - fab slides and play park; Riverside Museum; Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, West end Botanic Gardens

I would get a boat out from Oban to Mull or take the 'Road to the Isles' and drive up to Arisaig, enjoy the 'local hero' beach and then a boat from Mallaig to Eigg ( maybe over ambitious though!) You can get the Harry Potter steam train from Fort William too.

Loch Lomond and up the west coast,Inveraray is a gorgeous wee town, it's beautiful. Stirling Castle and the Wallace Monument.

(you won't midges in cities or on the coast but take repellant for wooded/ loch side areas)

Great suggestions Norman, I'm Scottish and I blanked out.

While you're at Glasgow Green the People's Palace is fab, a very honest history of Glasgow. I love it!

If 3 weeks time, definitely come and explore some of the islands and westcoast beaches; Mull is fab, and steam train great

Drive up to Inverness (good playpark in Whin Park): spot lochness monster in Drumnadrochit, detour into Abriachan for forest walks, see dolphins on chanonry point in Fortrose; walk up fairy glen in rosemarkie

Coming back down A9, the Highland Folk Museum in Newtonmore is a must stop for a 4 year old; lots of lovely walks and views around Rothiemurchus near Aviemore; peekaboo inside the old oak in Birnam or spot tall trees at the Hermitage near Dunkeld. Landmark at Carrbridge supposed to be good, but never been

Midges can be a pain, but if staying near the coast and catching a breeze or some sunshine it's not too bad

In Glasgow I would recommend the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. It is fantastic for all ages. I would say the same for the Glasgow Science Centre. The walks along the river from the Botanic Gardens are a great place to go squirrel watching and there is a lovely playpark there too.

Aviemore is great for those who like the outdoors. There are long cycle paths through the Rothimurchus Estate up towards Cairngorm.

The beach at Loch Morlich has a few watersports on offer although he would probably be too young for that. It is lovely for a days beach play on a hot day though and lots to watch in the water.

Pony trekking centres are all over the place there as well. We have used Alvie Stables and they were excellent, although we do have riding experience.

There is indoor ceramic painting at the MacDonald Centre and Decopatch and paper mache model painting in a shop beside the Rothiemurchus Estate Shop.

The MacDonald Centre also has a fun swimming pool with a slide in it.

Kincraid Wildlife Park is brilliant with a drive through section and a walk through section and lots of exciting animals eg polar bear, wolves, tigers which might appeal.

There is also a place called Landmark in Carrbridge which has a wooden path working its way up high into the trees, a huge observation tower, an old fashioned sawmill with a Clydesdale horse, and lots of daredevil activities but they might be too advance for him, as there are some height restrictions.

Blairdrummond Safari Park might be a good place to break a journey through the Stirling area.

Can't believe no-one has mentioned the pandas at Edinburgh zoo!

I think there is some sort of moisturiser from Avon that is supposed to deter midges. Is it Skin So Soft or something like that?

Hi cairn - are you Scottish?

if you really want to stick to 2 hrs within glasgow/edinburgh (as there's loads of good bits further north!) then the following:

day trip to isle of bute (get train from glasgow central to weymss bay - pronounced weems bay! then 30 minute ferry over to the island

go down to the ayrshire coast - dunure castle is on the coast and has good walks around and a few miles up the road is the electric brae which is this hill where you roll backwards UP the hill (optical illusion but a 4 year old will probably love it as well as you!)

sailing/rowing boats on loch lomond

def glasgow science museum as mentioned by Dilys

day trip to largs and have an ice-cream at nardinis - a fabulous arc-deco ice-cream parlour!

there is a great park on the southside - rouken glen - fabulous walks, a boating pond and great playground for kids - train from glasgow central to whitecraigs

re midges -much worse in west than east. get some DEET and make sure wrists and ankles in particular are covered in it

have a great trip - it's a wonderful place (and we're not ALL anti-english - just the idiots!)

It is skin so soft carrots by Avon. I bought a bottle for camping by loch ness and no midgie bites, costs a fiver. It is an oil based spray though so I used it from dusk. Yes, I really am so pale I need sunscreen in Scotland.

I wouldn't advise that they waste the best part of a week in Scotland's cities. Far better to spend the time seeing the rest of the country.

Sticking within 2hrs of Glasgow and those not mentioned (I think)

Dean Castle country park in Kilmarnock is great, there's a small castle with a room where you can try on clothes and armour, animals, great play areas, picnic benches and walks.

Heads of Ayr farm park has plenty of animals and old farm machinery they can climb on. Also great play areas including the jumping pillows! as well as large slides, sandpit etc This means that they can keep on playing for hours and really make a day of it. Has a small softplay inside if weather isn't great.

The beach at Ayr is definitely worth it too if you get a nice day, there's a good playpark and you can get whippy ice cream next to it.

Blairdrummond safari park-my charges are never ready to go even when we are there from it opening all the way till closing. Has all the animals, drive through lions and other larger animals, sea lions shows, farm where you can feed the goats etc but also pedalos, flying fox over the water, bbq area, amazing playpark and some small fairground rides.

Stirling Castle?

Oh and also M&D's in Motherwell has fairground rides, amazonia, adventure golf, bowling and soft play

Avon Skin-So-Soft in the green bottle for the midgies. Also anything lavender scented works too I've found.

The museums and art galleries are nearly all free although since the refurbishment I would suggest not getting lunch at the Royal Museum in Edinburgh as there are plenty of cafes nearby that offer better food at a better price. Camera Obscura is expensive but brilliant fun for everyone. There are steps and no lift and I'd give yourself a few hours minimum to see and play with everything.

Kelvingrove Museum and Transport Museum in Glasgow are both free. Science Museum if you want to spend.

After the cities take a boat from Largs to the isle of Cumbrae and stay in Millport a few days. This is a bike friendly island where you can easily cycle around as many times as you want (11 miles and no really big hills to speak of.) Lots of beautiful beaches, bag an ice cream at the Ritz cafe and relax.

That's what I'd do :o) That way you're not driving constantly and can have a bit of r&r.

'ello carrotsandcelery

I'm not but DH is and we might be moving north of the border at some stage. We're going up for a big family ceilidh next month and am still trying to persuade DS to wear his kilt. The sporran is a BIG hit, the kilt less so......

Badgerwife - are you really saying they don't want to go more than 2 hours from Glasgow? If so they might as well not bother going on holiday to Scotland as they'll miss most of the best parts. Could they not do a two or three centre holiday. Stay in Perthshire for a few nights, say, and then up further north?

I agree that you should try and go a little further afield than just Edinburgh and Glasgow. I think Scone Palace with it's Maze and play park is great for younger children. A visit to St. andrew's (the home of golf) is a must as the town is lovely, nice places to eat and an enormous beach. Kids need to be a bit hardy to swim in the North Sea though. Stirling Castle is good and they do lots of re-enactments for the kids. If you are in Stirling then there is the Safari Park and then it is only a hop, skip and a jump to the Trossachs. You can go to Loch Katrine and cycle (very flat and easy) or take a boat trip. Could go on but beginning to sound like a tour guide.

I should probably clarify that I hate Edinburgh with a passion and Glasgow is not much better IMO, so I'm probably not the best person to comment impartially. There is nothing in either city that doesn't have a superior equivalent south of the border. Rural Scotland, on the other hand, is a different matter. End of rant.

Dumfries and Galloway is lovely and has lovely beaches, forest walks, drumlanrig castle has the best adventure playground.

wonderful places to eat and not touristy.
Mossyard beach is fantastic, white sand, rockpools etc.

Dumfries and galloway would be on their way home or way to glasgow/edinburgh.

A second hand wet suit from ebay could be handy for the beach thing if it is not hot. It is hot here too though sometimes

I agree with gaelicsheep. In my opinion Edinburgh Castle is nice to visit but a complete tourist trap. The rest of edinburgh is unauthentic and feels to me "man made" for the tourists.

I like Glasgow but not as a tourist place to visit.

Defintly recommend by passing the major cities, if they want to do a castle, drumlanrig or stirling are good.

A nice trip is catching the wee ferry from ? to Inchmahome priory, magical.