Family trip to York and Scotland with children, any recommendations?

[LoudBee]

Off to York and then Scotland in August, really looking forward to it, taking DH DS and DD who is Sen, we plan on going to Jorvik Viking centre for day one and then next day off to Scotland, planning on going to see the Three sisters and drive through Glencoe, and one day booked for Edinburgh castle, always a bit worried if will be overwhelming for my DD who is only 9 years old, DS teenager 17
any recommendations to visit? Staying near Edinburgh, would have loved to go to John o groats as we went to lands end last year but the drive is just too far for a day. Any other recommendations for York and places to eat? Does anyone know if the Park and Ride Bus in York goes close to the Viking centre?

Seton sands is on the wrong side of Edinburgh to easily get to Glencoe. Even at 7am I think you're chancing your luck on the bypass and getting back into the city in an evening. Why are you so intent on driving over 6 hours in a day when you've already so far to get here! There's plenty of Scotland you can explore without spending the entire trip in the car.
What's the back story with the disabled parking? Does your daughter walk, use a wheelchair?? This will really affect what you can see and do around the city. Do Edinburgh castle let you stay parked there while you explore elsewhere or is it only for your time at the castle? I don't envy you driving up to there in August!! Make sure you use googlemaps or similar for live traffic as there's a number of summer road closures in the city and some roads e.g. Princes Street are bus/taxi access only.

Ah, figures. ChatGPT seems to like sending people off on ridiculously long trips.

Someone posted a short break to Iceland that involved ping-ponging across the country in a series of 12 hour round trips to the four corners of the island. I tried it for a part of rural Spain I know well and it suggested criss-crossing Andalucia on buses that do not exist in a way that made no logical sense.

My daughter has hypermobilty, but suffers fatigue and pain, so she can’t walk far, normally we have a wagon we pull her in,she is also Autistic , so she may end up having to find somewhere to rest while my son explores, I can honestly say it’s so difficult to keep everyone happy on this trip, My husband and son is desperate to see the three sisters,but I think we may need a re think, we have the day before to do some changes before the travelling day of Scotland! Edinburgh castle have given us a disabled parking space for her, so that was a stress off of the day, we were just going to really pace ourselves

If you have a 4 day stay at Seaton Sands please rethink the Glencoe drive. Save if for another different trip. It is a long way and its for walking, there is not much to do. Or Would your ds be happy doing a one day Rabbies group tour on his own - thats an option to explore. You will have plenty to do locally in East Lothian and Edinburgh itself. You can drive to Longniddry and get the train in or if you have blue badge just park in Central Edinburgh.

Don't try to cover too much in one quick visit. Why is York only a single day? There is enough just in Edinburgh for one trip. The scenery is good from the top of the M6. No need to go to Glencoe. Also the Cairngorms wildfire may still be relevant.

The Three Sisters is a serious mountain walk, are you really planning to drive all that way just for them to look at the view from a car park? You might not even get in the car park or even worse, the weather might be so bad that there is no view!
Also be aware that once in Edinburgh castle it still has hills and uneven surfaces. Are you parking on the esplanade?

@LoudBee is there a reason you can't visit again so you are not trying to cram everything in ?

Those suggesting Loch Lomond instead of Glencoe are definitely on to something. However bear in mind the A82 can also be very busy when the weathers good. If you do Loch Lomond then an organised boat trip up the Loch will be beautiful. (Remember if you’re here (West/Loch Lomond area) early morning or evening, bring midge repellent!)

Another suggestion might be a trip on the iconic Waverley?

Whatever you choose, I hope you enjoy every minute!

@LoudBeeI live in Scotland OP. You’re not going to Glencoe from Edinburgh, sorry 😂 you’ll spend the whole day in the car.

We live down south so the reason for York was to break up the drive as it’s around 6 hours from where we live, so I thought it would be nice to stop over and have a day and night in York but not have a crazy day of site seeing just the one place to visit in York, then on to Scotland the next day, York was a last minute extension of the day, our summer holidays has been really restricted this year due to my daughters needs, so why I’m trying to get as much in, we may be able to visit next year but I just don’t know? We went successfully to Cornwall last year, so we was trying the other end of the uk, like I say I’m trying to keep the family happy, my sons little escape away, he has worked so hard at college and my daughter escape from everything, appointments, she also has hearing loss in both ears, I thought it might be a nice calm but beautiful drive for her? And we were also going to find a lovely beach for her the following day after the scenic drive? So she can play in the sand

Dig museum in York is good for kids and you can get a joint ticket with Jorvik.

I thought the railway museum in York was great. I was really pessimistic about it and thought it would be dull but had a great time.

But Scotland is an entire country vs Cornwall a single county. You can't see places scattered across the country in a week unless all you do is drive from place to place.

I would park the Three Sisters for now and concentrate on York and the area around Edinburgh.

The for a future holiday, fly to Inverness and stay in the area. You can then do trips to John O'Groats, the Three Sisters, driving past Loch Ness on the way, also local beaches and the Highland Wildlife Park. Which is the best part of a week's holiday in the Scottish Highlands, which aren't really anywhere near Edinburgh.

I don't know your Dds specific circumstances but it might not be the idyllic drive to the Highlands that you are hoping for, i think that is what Pps are trying to say, so to do it in one day might be stressful and exhausting,

Staying at Seton Sands isn't really an issue if you want to visit Edinburgh but it's about as far from any sort of highland scenery as you can possibly get whilst still being in Scotland and going west /north involves the city bypass which is often congested, particularly at weekends and rush hour.
Even though you have a disabled parking space at the castle I would seriously consider taking the train from Wallyford into Edinburgh and then jumping in a cab up to the castle.
Stop at Alnmouth on your drive from York to Edinburgh, the beach is stunning.
Alternative suggestions for things to do:
There's beach across the road from Seton Sands but it's literally a beach, there's no promenade or facilities apart from public toilets in the car park.
North Berwick (sandy beach, sea bird centre and boat trips). Berwick Law for your son.
Museum of flight in East Lothian.
Day trip to Peebles - it's got a nice high street and walk along the river. Option of Go Ape or mountain biking at Glentress.
If you want "highland scenery" i would go no further north than Callander or head to Loch Lomond but they're still going to be 2 hours each way in the car.

I second Marzano’s in York - also Ate O’Clock and Nola - all delicious food!

I feel like we've all poured cold water on your plans op. I'm sorry.
If your family really want to drive to Glencoe then go and do it. It will be a long day but might be one you'll always remember. Go up on the chairlift, have a walk around. Nice cafe.

It's hard to please everyone and I can tell you're trying hard.

The traffic in Edinburgh is hideous at the best of times. Right now you're adding in the festivals in August and the main route through the city being completely closed because of a big fire. If you can at all manage it then please get the train. It will be so much calmer. There's a mobility minibus that picks people up at the foot of the castle esplanade. You just need to call them and arrange that instead of the parking. It's really easy.

From Seton Sands on another day you could get the bus into Portobello. It's a lovely part of Edinburgh with beaches and cafes. Amusement arcade if that's your thing, pizza takeaway place on the prom. Long flat prom runs all the way along if your dd is using a pushchair or anything. Your son could climb Arthur's Seat while you're at the beach. There are plenty of buses going that way for him, nowhere near the city centre disruption so it would be easy.

Or if your beach day is in North Berwick he can climb Berwick Law while you play on the sand.

So that's a day in Edinburgh city centre, a long day driving up to Glencoe and a day at the beach. Perfect.

I think sometimes it's impossible to please everyone, so better to not even try because that seems to be asking to disappoint everyone instead.

It's also probably best to not try and cram too much in. It's a holiday, so some rest and relaxation would also probably be nice.

Pitlochry and aberfeldy are lovely to visit. There's the Birks of aberfeldy which is a lovely walk. But again busy in summer. Being at Seton sands you're adding and extra half hour of travel on and Edinburgh bypass from 7am is awful especially as the schools go back which is mid August here. Agree Glencoe would be mobbed. It's a lovely drive and fantastic scenery but parking is awful. We frequently drive through there on our way to the west coast out of season and it's still busy. There's not much there either unless you're a walker.

Good luck...lots to think about

As others have said I think you're trying to do too much and I'd skip the drive to Glencoe for this trip.

Have you been able to speak to Edinburgh Castle about how your DD will get around the castle? There are lots of cobblestones, narrow/steep stone staircases outside between the different areas of the castle, and narrow wooden staircases inside the buildings including spiral stairs. Is there a tour with a route suitable for people with reduced mobility? Because if not I'd be worried you can't see everything you might want to inside.

You need to book tickets for York attractions now - particularly Jorvik centre.

As an alternative you could go to Loch Katrine. 2 hours drive still so will be longer in traffic. The SS Sir Walter Scott is a nice trip and your son could go on a walk, the paths are well marked.

https://www.lochkatrine.com/

York - City walls free & a great walk
Railway Museum great even if you are not into trains it’s about so much more
Castle museum
Cruise on the Ouse
Chocolate Story is good
Personally thought Jorvik a bit over priced and didn’t live up to the hype .
Don’t like Shambles - tacky and so crowded.
Ambiente Tapas in Fossgate for food .
Wouldn’t bother with Bettys tearooms .
Edinburgh - National museum of Scotland Museum of childhood ( both free)
Camera Obscura
National Portrait Gallery
Dean village and walk to modern art gallery
Stockbridge
St Giles to look at the stained glass
Carlton hill for views
Royal yacht Britannia at Leith

As others have said Castle is so busy and you are somewhat hurried round .
Loads of eateries .
Agree with what others have said Glencoe is a fair run away and just a view often a very misty one !
Enjoy .

Tbh I wouldn't combine a visit to York with a holiday in Scotland you easily could fill a week in York, there's a lot more to the city than Jorvik.

It’s ok and thank you, I’m taking on board what everyone is saying and I really appreciate the advice, I’m going to sit down tonight and re arrange, I’ve already booked our stays so I just need to re arrange what our plans are, and also the Edinburgh castle trip, consider the train as suggested. This is all great suggestions and advice and I really appreciate it, I’m sure we are going to have a lovely time any way, just a change of scenery for us makes all the difference