Scotland with baby and toddler

[Nw]

We are thinking of taking 1 or 2 wks holiday in May in Scotland, any hotel/accomodation recommendations?

When do the midges appear?

[Mima]

Croppy, you will just LOVE it. We are going there soon too for the Easter weekend. Let me know what you think of the place.

[Croppy]

Mima - lastminute.com has rooms at the Gleneagles Hotel at the moment for what seems like a pretty good discount. We are trying to sort out a weekend there at the mo - thanks for the tip!

[Mima]

In the recent Families Edinburgh magazine they have a wee list of child friendly hotels in Scotland. The Peebles Hydro is a family hotel facilites include indoor leisure facilities, 4 childrens playrooms, and special childrens teas one for under 12 and one for teenagers. They also have a childrens hostess from 10am - 10pm organising activities, babylistening or babysitting, 24 family rooms with adjoining childrens rooms 01721 720602 or www.parkpeebles.co.uk.

They also list Seamill Hydro which states "it is a timeless haven families will love". Apartments or family rooms. Kitchen, lounge with cable TV, separate childrens bedrooms. Great swing park, crazy golf, kids club, new leisure facilites, beauty room, babysitters available. The editor of Families stated "I think this is the friendliest hotel in the world - they just adore kids. The restaurant manager has been often seen walking around holding small babies for harassed parents. THe best thing of all is that it has unrivalled views of Arran and the gardens lead on to miles of unspoilt west coast beach. Reservations is 01294 822217.

Also listed is The Hilton Dunblane Hydro, a hotel set in 40 acres of private grounds recently re-opened last April after an extensive £4m refurbishment. Facilites include Living Well Health Club, tennis courts, fully equipped creche and childrens club. 75 family rooms. Babysitting available. During term holidays and half term holidays there are activities in the playroom ages 1 - 7 and a youth club 8 years plus. www.hilton.com or 01786 825250

[Kia]

Hi Jac! MIL just got back from Menorca - by all accounts silent as in grave - Apparently one of MIL's group nearly had a heart attack when a man knocked on her door at 10pm and refused to go away - turned out it was a waiter sent up with a bottle of champers for her birthday compliments of Saga!!! (thats her story anyway!) MIL is having a mild flirtation with an old flame who lives in Canada, but she says she's too set in her ways to put herself out for men or anyone these days! Sensible woman!

[Tigger]

Thank you Mima, I'm to be the chief navigator that day, so, if we get lost, we'll probably end up at a chippy!!!

[Mima]

Tigger, sorry for not replying sooner but been away for the weekend. I think your best bet would be to head West when you get onto the by-pass and head towards the Gyle shopping centre. It is probably best at the end of the by-pass if you follow all the yellow AA signs for the Royal Yacht Britannia. It is now moored in Leith not that far from Coburg Place where Blondels is. At the end of the By-pass all signs for Leith/Britannia and City Centre are very well signposted so you should not get lost. Hope this helps you out.

[Tigger]

I must apologise my mothers hearing is going a bit!!!, she has just phoned about 10 mintues after I posted the message to say it is called Blondels!!!, mothers arghhhhhhh. It is the right place, could you please help directing us into Leith, if we don't have directions then I'll have done some damage to my worse half by Biggar!!! Many thanks for your help, don't know that part of Edinburgh at all.

Tigger

[Mima]

I have never heard of a place called Blondies unless it is just new - I think I am fairly up to date on these things as we like to try as many new places as possible. There is however a place called Blondels in Leith - is this perhaps the one you mean?

[Tigger]

Mima, calling Mima, I need your help, we are coming to Edinburgh at the end of this month for my aunt and uncles silver Wedding, we are having lunch at a place called Blondies. Do you know about this place if you do, where is it?, we usually come in off the city bypass from Biggar coming in at the Corstorphine end, please help!!!!!!!!

[Jac]

Kia, I forgot to say, Saga louts, brilliant. She thought it was hilarious too. She's a bit of a loner, her words not mine, and won't be joining in any bingo but would much rather be exploring the town on her own. She likes younger men too, what about yours?

[Kia]

Just remembered! I insisted on going to the William Wallace Memorial (all those kilts and firm thighs - freedom etc etc!!) and I wouldn't advise it with small children you have to go up and down the same spiral stairwell which is on the outside of the tower and with holes open to the wind down one side. It was so windy they had shut off the top floors that day! All you could hear was me saying 'ohshitohshit' and the echo going up and down the stairwell. I really got the frighteners and it wasn't worth it to see the famous swords etc. I'll just have to make do with the video I suppose!

[Kia]

Jac, my MIL goes on saga holidays with her 'chums' 1 or 2 of whom are somewhat elderly and tend to go to bed about 8.30pm and are up banging on the breakfast table why are we waiting at 0600 hrs sharp the next morning!! I don't know why she goes with them to be honest, but she says she's happy to do it and feels quite young for most of the holiday and for some time afterwards!! She comes on holiday with us alot and has been known to party till the wee small hours on whisky&soda in Corfu! We're going to do the Disney Florida thing next year and she says she might come along too if we stay in a decent hotel where she can relax if she doesn't feel up to Mickey and Co.

[Jac]

Oh Kia, that sounds just like my MIL, she's turning 70 this year and contemplating a Saga holiday having just discovered them, but perhaps I should tell her not to bother!

[Nw]

Got the brochure for Crieff and it looks great and not too pricey.

[Kia]

Cos, sorry about calling them 'oldies' didn't mean anything by it. My MIL has just come back from 2 weeks in menorca with her saga louts, phoned us at 930pm saying she was having a brandy at the bar on her own because all the 'oldies' had been in bed an hour - she's 70!!

[Kia]

Cos - get your oldies to wrap up really well and waterproof themselves, long red socks over pantaloons seemed to be the order of the day (and that was just the men!)! We didn't try the nursery as ours are so much older than yours, but the pool was warm and has a jacuzzi which loads of the smaller children were in. They also have a washer,tumble drier and ironing board that guests can use! Breakfast was hale and hearty (plus haggis!) and the evening meals down in the bar were child friendly bearing in mind mine insist on a diet of chips with chips! There is a buffet style cafe set in a huge conservatory where you can get soup and cakes and crisps and bottles warmed etc after a good tramp round the grounds. I think there's outside bowls and chess too. There is a crystal factory shop on the way which your oldies might like a wander round - I bought some lovely wine goblets now all I need is to learn how to cook the meal that goes with them! Perth was a fairly decent drive away - we went to Scone Palace/castle? for the afternoon and my daughter announced this is where she wants to get married! Lastly you might want to go to nearby Glenturret Distillery where they do a terrific meal and a liquer(can't spell) which I could kick myself for not buying. They again had absolutely no problems at all with children. If you can you might try to get one of their chalets, but they were full up when we went but the hotel itself was fine. I hope thats given you some ideas, we had a great time, but each to his own and I'd be really interested if anyone else's experience was different - you can be at the same hotel at the same time and come away with different experiences can't you.

[Cos]

Kia
any tips for creiff
we'll have just turned two twins and just turned four boy, fil of 85 and my parents who are mid sixties

[Mima]

Another really good place is Hilton Coylumbridge, Aviemore, (01479 810661) (www.hilton.com). They have beautiful Nordic type lodges in the hotel grounds all done in tartans and solid oak furniture. The creche caters for children from 3 months to 7 years and is open from 8am - 10pm. The surroundings and scenery are all really beautiful there. Aviemore is about an hour/hour and a half drive from Glasgow airport.

[Tigger]

Why is it that living in Scotland all my life, I have never heard of so many good places!!, could be worth investigating, now lets see if I can drag him away from his tractor.........

[Croppy]

Cripes Mima! That sounds incredible... I am going to book

[Mima]

Ems re Gleneagles our son is only 2 and a half but he just loves it. The facilities are very good for children of all ages. Check out their website - they often have a lot of deals on. We normally go about 4 times a year, Easter and Christmas are just fantastic, Easter eggs given to you at Easter and at Christmas they even left a carrot and mince pie and a personal letter from Santa to our Son. Every little touch is just catered for whether it is a child or an adult, but you would not expect any less from a five star hotel. Even when you book a babysitter you are given the same one for the duration of your stay and you can book her during the day for nanny duties if you so wish. We have been there with friends who have older children and we never see them. The "in" thing up there just now is 4x4 driving for children, they have miniature jeeps. All in all I LOVE the place, and once your kiddies are tucked up in bed with a babysitter you have wonderful food and wine to look forward to. The facilities range from pool games, games rooms creche, bike hire, sledge hire, golf lessons for kids, croquet, putting green, tennis, falconry, riding school and even for mums who like shopping there is a Harvey Nicks, Mulberry, Escada, N-Peal Cashmere and more.

[Ems]

I'll just add to the Crieff recommendations and Cameron House.

I would love to visit Gleneagles Mima, how old are your children, do they get alot out of it?

[Ems]

I'll just add to the Crieff recommendations and Cameron House.

[Mima]

I live in Edinburgh so thought I would answer your note regarding holidays in Scotland. Crieff Hydro is VERY good and comes highly recommended from nearly everyone I know. They have lodges in the grounds so it is best to try to get one of those. Gleneagles Hotel (gleneagles.com) is our favourite. It is in Perthshire and is one of our most favourite places. Another very good place is Cameron House Hotel on Loch Lomond (de vere hotel), most of the places surrounding there are very good and it is only about 40 minutes drive from Glasgow. We don't get midges!!

[Kia]

Crieff Hydro was terrific with children of all ages, nursery, pool, riding, golf, go-carts,lots of kilts, scottish dancing in 2 huge ballrooms, and happy smiling staff! Only one bar though! Dont remember any midges as it rained nearly all the time we were there but we had a terrific time as we went prepared with vast amounts of wet weather gear!