Scotland for first-timers - what are your must-sees and must-dos?

[IHeartKingThistle]

After years of saying 'we really must go to Scotland' we're actually doing it! It's me, DH and DC 10 and 7.

We've got a camper van booked for a week in August. (It's the only time we could do and we have been warned about midges!). So can literally go anywhere. We have a cousin in Edinburgh who we're going to visit and explore there a bit. I haven't checked properly but I think the Fringe stuff will just about be over when we get there.

So looking for recommendations of places to visit, pretty places, campsites etc. Any suggestions happily received!

DC are outdoorsy, like history and are total Potterheads, if that helps. We're starting from Surrey (I know it's mad but we love a road trip!).

Thanks!

Oh and I've always wanted to go to Loch Ness but no idea if it's too far?

tbh i'd advise picking a side and going with it, if you have Edinburgh to do that can be a couple of days, but is not really camper style iyswim

East coast is very pretty, fife is full of pretty harbours and tayside/angus has some gorgeous beaches, you could get up to Aberdeen, Peterhead and back along the Moray Firth

Once you are west of the A9 or north of Aberdeen the roads are really Not That Good, so you'll be lucky to get anywhere fast

Loch Ness is very pretty....roads can be crammed though

West coast is also gorgeous....lots of mountains and scenic views, lots of narrow steep roads

There's always the NorthCoast 500, but i think for a week that might be tight for you to do from Surrey.

Go to Loch Katrine, have coffee and cake at the cafe at the trossachs pier, then take the two hour cruise round the loch. Scenery is perfect.

The Lodge Forest at Aberfoyle is also good. Get there early for breakfast and then take a walk through the woods. There's a zip wire there too, if you're mental feeling adventurous.

Camera Obscura in Edinburgh is great fun! My husband and I went before we had our daughter and really enjoyed ourselves.

Buy some Smidge before you go!

There's the Royal Yacht at Leith, The Falkirk Wheel. The roads can get a bit narrow after the central belt. We go up to Mull on a regular basis and it can take 4 hours from Glasgow to Fort William.

The festival will be in full swing in August. There is a camp site in silverknowes in edinburgh which is popular and you could use as a base.

I love Scotland, there are so many nice areas and the scenery is fabulous

My favourite places are Edinburgh, Mid Argyl (Loch Fyne, Inverary etc), Mull, Arran, Oban

The only places I have been disappointed with are the south end of Loch Lomond (too busy & touristy for my liking) and Islay (nothing to do/see except whisky distilleries)

If you go to Edinburgh then it's worth doing an open top bus tour to see the sights. Agree that the Royal Yacht is worth a trip, as is the botanical garden and the Castle

In a week I think I would:
Spend a couple of days in Edinburgh
Drive through to Glasgow and then on to Loch Lomond and spend a night round about there.
Drive up to Fort William and spend a couple of days there. Your DC might like the steam train that goes over the Glenfinnan Viaduct, it featured in one of the Harry Potter films.
Then drive via Loch Ness to Inverness to finish your trip.

I may be biased as I'm a west coaster, but the scenery in the West Highlands is more dramatic than anything you will see on the east coast. But if you want beaches then the east coast might suit you better. St Andrews would be a good place to base yourselves for a bit and Dundee has the Discovery Ship and Verdant Works Museum which would appeal to history-loving DC I'm sure.

Have a fab time wherever you get to and haste ye back!

Rannoch Moor and Glencoe. Spectacular!

Oh my goodness this is so useful! Keep it coming! So much to Google!

Look at Google for New Lanark - it's a village which was once a cotton mill town and is now a world heritage site. It's gorgeous x

Go west. It's far more dramatic and impressive. The east is all a bit "meh". The area around Ullapool has lovely beaches.

Skye is absolutely beautiful and plenty of things to stop and enjoy en route. You could go to Oban and take a ferry out to one of the isles. Aviemore is good for outdoor activities - kayaking, whitewater rafting, canyoning, mountain biking, archery, clay pigeon shooting are ones I've done up there and there are more I haven't. Wherever you go, have a list of castles as they are everywhere. Ardnamurchan peninsula on the west coast is lovely. Edinburgh is great (don't forget to visit the Forth Rail Bridge and maybe take a trip out to Inchcolm island from South Queensferry) but do get out into the highlands, they are stunningly beautiful and very diverse.

The east is all a bit "meh"

Oh really?

Edinburgh? Fife, with all it's lovely little coastal villages and strange gems like the nuclear bunker. Dundee (typical large town but has enough worthwhile touristy things to easily fill a day for anyone who hasn't been). Lots of lovely villages and towns along the coast up to Aberdeen, though maybe a slight detour to visit Glamis castle and kirriemuir. Back to the coastal route for Montrose with its basin, Scurdiness lighthouse and St Cyrus beach, Stonehaven's lovely harbour with the iconic Dunnottar castle nearby. From Stonehaven, head inland along Royal Deeside picking up Balmoral Castle, Crathes etc and up into the Cairngorms. Meh? I think not.

Eilean Donan?

Amazing suggestions. I may laminate my list of castles

I mentioned New Lanark earlier - just found out that's where tonight's Antiques Roadshow was filmed