NC500 with kids. Disaster or Adventure?

[SuperAunt08]

Hi,
Has anybody done the NC500 with kids? DH would really like to do it and I’d be excited if it was just the 2 of us but we’d be dragging along 2 teenagers and an 8yo.

We’re planning a 10 day itinerary in the summer and since it would be our family summer holiday I don’t mind throwing some money at it but probably can’t stretch to 10 days in hotels with 5 of us so would have to camp, this is usually my idea of hell but I’m trying to see it as an adventure and have suggested breaking it up with a night in hotels at the beginning, middle and end of our trip.

We don’t currently own a large family tent and the closest we’ve come to camping is a couple of nights Glamping.
Are we mad? Any tips?

I'd get a caravan somewhere on the west coast and then do day trips out.

It's amazing

This could be a good compromise

Stay in Ullapool and Thurso for a few days each and just do day trips x

I cycled it a few years ago and it was beautiful. I think I'd hate to drive it. The roads are pretty narrow and it would be a faff.

We did about half of it in February with 2 teens, stayed in small hotels. There was snow. We go to Scotland a lot but had never been to the far north. By day 5 we were really fed up of driving and ready to come home! Also the car was starting to feel very small and we were all holding it in trying not to argue.

By some amazing luck we had beautiful clear weather whilst storm Dudley was raging further south. And the scenery was "Fooking amazing" and much instagrammed. However the overwhelming feeling was that DH and I would come back on our own some day and do it on motorbikes.

You could just choose 3 campsites on the west coast and make your own mini tour.

After spending many hours and days trying to find different ways to make this bearable possible. I’ve convinced DH that hiring a motor home works out too expensive and any other way just isn’t practical so Ive booked us 4 days on a caravan site near Oban to use as a base for some sightseeing days out followed by 3 days at a holiday resort with entertainment etc at Tummel Bridge.
Any tips for days out around that area of the West Coast? Ferry to Mull?

If you're thrill seekers, the dates line up and your budget allows: www.seafari.co.uk/our-tours/whirlpool-special-tour/

We're thinking of doing a motorhome with a 3.5yo this summer. Maybe 4days/5 nights flying into Inverness

If they are Potter fans, its an easy day out from Oban to go watch the steam train go over the Glennfinnan viaduct - or do the steam train trip from Fort William yourselves (or the regular Scotrail train for much less price but runs on the same tracks past the same amazing scenery!)