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!

I think Edinburgh and Glasgow are great got a few days each especially as you can be indoors - the weather is often shite unpredictable.

Yes but if they go away from the Central Belt they can escape the shite CB weather! Weather in the area, for example, is not bad at all. Nairn is supposed to be the sunniest place in the UK (apparently!)

in the Inverness area, that should be

The East coast is much better than the West with regard to midgees :) Perth is a lovely small city suitable for bikes. Not too far from Edin or Glas.

Activity ideas:
Perth Museum (free)
Fergusson Gallery (free)
Active Kids (Stanley village)
Stanley Mills (Historic Scotland property)
Perth Leisure Pool
Dewar's Ice Rink
TISO climbing wall
North & South Inches (parks)
Scone Palace (inside & outside spaces)
Perth Theatre
Perth Concert Hall

Eating:
The Bothy
Sante
Pig Halle
Let's Eat
63 Tay Street
Parklands
The North Port
Gloagburn (farm shop)
The Brig (farm shop)
Stewart Tower Diary (farm shop)

Hope that helps!

Most of the places I was going to suggest have already been mentioned.

I would get a ferry from Oban to Mull, could visit the Balamory houses, then on to Iona, beautiful.

Would also do a day trip cycling round Millport, since the DS has a bike anyway, would be silly not too!

Loch lomond shores is good on a nice day, can go out on the water, decent park, few rides, sea life centre.

I think the OP meant a couple of days in Glasgow/Edinburgh then traveling north, but no more than a couple of hours traveling in one day?

So Glasgow to Fort William one day, stay there for a day or two then head further north, stay for a day or 2 then head towards highlands?

Visit Dundee to see the Discovery ( Scott of the Antarctic boat)- great museum there. Big pool right next door with plumes. Just round the corner is Sensations, an interactive science centre for kids. Less than two hours further on and you are in Aberdeen- great art gallery, maritime museum in the harbour, the beach area, Gordon Highlanders museum, head out west of aberdeen and in an hour you are at Balmoral passing some lovely scenery along the way. Oh and I forgot in between Dundee and Aberdeen is Stonehaven ( Dunnottar castle is here, fab setting, and where Mel Gibsons Hamlet was filmed) -worth stopping at for ice-cream at Aunty Betty;s, Carron restaurant ( art deco building), heated open air swimming pool where you can do a midnight swim. Lots to do up North!

dur I meant flumes not plumes!!

Pitlochry is a lovely town with some fab walks and the salmon leap, perfect for a four year old. So much to do and see, really wouldn't waste time/money in the big cities. Arasaig possibly one of the most beautiful and unspoilt places in Britain and fab for camping!

Might be repeating as I haven't read the whole thread but if I were them I'd do more than 3 days in Edinburgh.

There's the fringe festival in august, loads to do for all ages and a walk down the royal mile is amazing. National museum of scotland on chambers street also good and probably should go see the only pandas in the UK at edinburgh zoo. You can also get a wee boat out from Leith to incholm island in the firth of forth which is nice on a good day.

Glasgow - there's the science centre for wet days, ds who is 5 could happily spend his life there.

Other things:
We got up to Aviemore a lot. There's the furnicular railway up the cairngorms, the reindeer herd, landmark centre, river spey, inverness nearby etc. Really amazing part of the world.

The east neuk of fife is also worth a visit though there isn't too much to do but lots of amazing beaches and walks and picnic places - anstruther etc. There's cairnie fruit farm and stanley active kids a bit further up if they want something specific to do.

I love the trossachs too - especially around aberfoyle.

Oban is beautiful and you can get the ferry over to Tobermory (Balamory) - there's NOTHING to do on Mull though so make sure to take the bike / walking boots or else just go for a quick wee visit.

I second the 'Harry Potter train'. It's the line from Fort William to Mallaig and is supposed to be one of the 10 most beautiful train journeys in the world. The steam train is incredibly expensive but it's a public line so you get exactly the same view out of the window of the scheduled diesel service.

Fort William is at the foot of Ben Nevis.

River at Killin is pretty.

Eilean Donan Castle, Blair Atholl, Isle of Skye, Glencoe, Loch Ness (hire boats). Flight of locks at Fort Augustus - the Bothy Inn is family friendly. Cycle hire at Fort Augustus.

GoApe at Aberfoyle - Britain's longest zip wire
Falkirk wheel (boat lift)

August in Edinburgh - unless accommodation is booked I'd be surprised if you got anything because of the festival. If you did it will be expensive. If you want to do Edinburgh I'd come slightly further North to Fife for accommodation and use the train into and out of the city. From Fife you can get North to Perthshire and also West to Glasgow.

Blair drummond safari park is a far superior day out to Edinburgh Zoo.

If it were me I'd do as above and then head north to Aberdeen and take in the costal road to Inverness. Lots of lovely seaside places and family run B&Bs.

From Inverness I'd head to Kyle of Localsh, Skye and Fort William before coming down the West Coast into Glasgow for the final bit of the holiday.

Goape is only good if you have older children I thought?

Wow so many suggestions, you guys are amazing!

Sorry if I wasn't clear, I was not saying that they want to stay within 2 hrs of Glasgow and Edinburgh, I think they want to do the two cities and then do a road trip with the rest of the time, but only travelling 2 hrs a day between places.

Now I must go and translate all of this wonderful stuff into French for them...