Help us find a staycation!

[Goosey3]

Looking for a little mon-fri break within Scotland (or v.v.north of England). Will be out with both Scottish and English summer holidays.

Would like:

• self catering either lodge or nice caravan


• plenty to explore round about - walks, nice towns, maybe a country park/farm park


• toddler friendly


• bonus points for swimming pool onsite


• we live at the seaside so seaside is not a must 😊


• Crieff Hydro (love!)


• Seton Sands (was great!)


• Piperdam (great!)


• Southerness (lovely!)


• Moness Resort (horrendous!)

Happy to revisit any of our good previous ones but is there anywhere that you can recommend that we havent tried? 😊

A staycation is when you remain at home. So not difficult to find one I would think.

Have to agree. It somehow implies that a “proper” holiday is abroad and, therefore, not available to those of us who can’t afford it.

the Lake District is lovely BTW. Or North Yorkshire? Lots to do in both.

Places we enjoyed when ours were toddlers:

Auchrannie on Arran
Crieff Hydro
Coylumbridge or Aviemore in general
Centerparcs - no doubt get a good deal when out of school hols
Lake district in general but usually around Keswick
Kielder forest but not handy for wandering around towns so much as quite deep into forest but does have a pool
The Forest lodge sites, stayed in a few and enjoyed them all.

www.forestholidays.co.uk
Forest Holidays for your holiday" I'm loving the rejection of staycation 😃

I meant to say there is 2 scottish locations I would recommend Strathyre

That's a holiday you're looking for

Center Parcs whinfell

I agree with Forest Holidays but there's no pool.
White Cross Bay on the shores of Windermere should tick your boxes.
The Parkdean site at Whitley Bay.

@squashyhat @EatSleepReplete Oh dear 🙈 I’m off to a good start! No or remove meant - I genuinely thought a “staycation” was when you stayed in your own country 🤣😅 I’ve been abroad once in my 35 years 😅 didn’t have a passport until I was 24. So a holiday in this country is very much a holiday to me - I just didn’t realise that wasn’t the word to use 🤣

@BinBandit Thank you for your suggestions. Auchrannie is very local to us so we’d rather explore somewhere else - but I agree, it is lovely 😊 Didn’t even think of centre parcs! Will have a look at the Forest holidays sites too 😊

@Mrsjayy 😅 I’m clearly an idiot 🤣 I had no idea!! Thank you for the Forest suggestion 👍🏻 I’ll have a look 😊

Have a look at Foresthills near Aberfoyle - I think it's a MacDonalds resort. I haven't been there, but location and area are fantastic for outdoors, and the hotel has a pool, tennis courts, play area & similar.

Actually if anyone has been there, I'd be interested to know what you thought of the hotel?

We used to go to Tummel valley in Perthshire its Hoseasons and had a pool I've not been in years but the dc enjoyed it.

Forest Hills by Aberfoyle

Craig Tara outside Ayr? I've heard the pool there is great and it's just down the road from a farm park.

Crieff Hydro for me every time. I’ve been going since I was 10 months old amd I’m now considerably older 😂

Mrsjayy and I are talking about the same place - she just used the correct name :) Strathyre local to me so haven't used but in a lovely setting. You could always get a hot tub in lieu of a pool. I think there is a pool in Callander but definitely is in Stirling which would be a good day out. Could pop into Briarlands and Kings Park to make a day and the Safari park is another good day. Aviemore you have The wildlife park and the outdoor museum (folk museum) as well as the big outdoor place to the north of aviemore. So many great places to go.

I think the Forrest Hills Hotel is nice a relative and family used to stay there when they came to Scotland from Abroad .

While I'm being a Salesperson for Forest Hills - it's within a 25 min drive of Blairdrummond Safari Park and Briarlands Farm (toddler/young primary paradise)

Craig Tara outside Ayr? I've heard the pool there is great and it's just down the road from a farm park.

Oh it can be rowdy we had a static there and we sold it after 3 seasons.

Grannies Heilan Hame at Dornoch, plenty to do locally and close enough to Inverness to go there too.

Nairn has a lovely caravan park, also close to Inverness.

There are camping pods at Aden Country Park in Mintlaw, the park itself is very toddler friendly and there are several towns close by with attractions like Peterhead Prison Museum, Fraserburgh lighthouse, Macduff aquarium.

It depends on your budget.

Aviemore is great with so much to do. The MacDonald and Hilton resorts both have lots of facilities. But it can get expensive.

St Andrews also very nice, I can recommend craigtoun meadows, but there's no pool. Leisure pool on St Andrews town though.

We have had great cheaper holidays at Lakeland in the Lake District. Haggerston Castle and Craig Tara (although don't go CT in school holidays!! It's fine at quieter times). Also Whitley Bay in the north east of England and Morcombe Ocean's Edge. All have swmimg pools.

Morton of pitmilly just outside St Andrews.

Aviemore, the McDonald resort. Cinema and pool on site, Landmark and Highland Wildlife Park a few miles away and you can head to the Reindeer Centre where you can go for a short walk and feed the reindeer.😊

Yep.

My childhood was spent holidaying in Scotland. Holidaying.

Another vote for Aviemore. It’s beautiful and so much to see and do!

I’d go with a wee centerparcs whinfell trip if it’s within budget. It’s such an easy holiday. The pool is great for that age.
Totally recommend using their childcare, and going for a laze in the spa.
we’ve not been since the kids went to school, cause it’s now too expensive refuse to pay the premium for school holiday time. but before that it was a favourite trip.