Somewhere like Crieff Hydro - suggestions please?

[Inyourwildestdreams]

Looking for a family trip (preferably within Scotland) for 2/3 nights in early May. It’s to mark a special occasion so would like somewhere nice. We’re happy to travel.

There will be myself, DH and our 3.5 year old. We’re open to all kinds of ideas - hotels, self catering lodges etc (preferably no caravan parks!). Would love if there was a swimming pool and some activities/places for nice day trips nearby.

I keep coming back to Crieff Hydro as it seems to tick all the boxes but we’ve been a good few times and would like to try something new. Can anyone recommend anywhere? 😊

How about the Auchrannie?

Macdonald Aviemore.

Landmark nearby is fun for DCs.

Would Peebles hydro work if you like Crieff Hydro?

Crieff Hydro & Auchrannie are the two I can think of if you don’t want to go further afield to somewhere in England.
We go to both regularly and always have a lovely time.

@MotherofTerriers @LeonoraFlorence I should have mentioned Auchrannie - it’s very close to where we live and we were hoping for somewhere a bit less “home” 😊

@heartofglass23 I’ll have a look - thank you! Although we have only visited one Macdonald hotel before and had an awful experience 🙈 have you been to this one? 😊

@Cantfindthewordsddstruggling Is Peebles Hydro similar? In my head they didn’t have much in the way of activities etc and it was more ‘spa break’. Off to have a google 😊

MacDonald Aviemore is okay but nothing like as good as it was.

Gleneagles is lovely but £££.

What about Fairmont in St Andrews?

www.lochrannochhotel.com/ Similar but different!

Fairmont is nice but I always find it a bit soulless somehow, especially with the children. I can’t put my finger on it.
We do love Gleneagles.

MacDonald Aviemore is not as posh as some of the others but it has the benefit of a pool and softplay and of being in Aviemore so close to loads of good stuff. We stayed in a self catering lodge, not the hotel.

I'm always on the hunt for something similar to be honest as I've sickened myself of Crieff Hydro and didn't love Auchrannie (or the journey). We've done Gleneagles once but the prices are now insane.

If you'll travel a bit we've looked at Ribby Hall in the north of England. It's probably not too far from you?

Other than that possibly Piperdam, Loch Tay lodges, Cameron House lodges (do they still exist? It was years ago we went) or something like a Forest holiday? Crieff definitely has managed to tick quite a lot of boxes that others just can't quite manage.

Peebles is lot quieter and less activities (no softplay) but there is mini golf, land rovers etc. the restaurant is nicer and the rooms have had a refresh. If your budget can stretch then another place hotel in Lake District is lovely but the prices are a bit ridiculous, pool is lovely though.

This is not remotely luxury anymore. The pool and soft play is good but the family rooms are dire.

Aviemore is a fun area for families, we used to stay at the Hilton but that's no more, instead we book an independent lodge with hot tub then just book what you want to do. The place we book is in boat of garten, on the steam train line, can't remember the landlords name as do does it, they only own that one.

@Inyourwildestdreams It’s been decades since I’ve been but it was somewhere that “sprung to mind” when you mentioned Crieff. Sorry I’m not much more help

You could do a city break instead? A nice hotel with pool in Edinburgh and go out and about doing things and eating in nice places?

Also the self catering lodge things tend to do a fixed 3 night weekend and 4 night mid week so it might not fit in with your days or you might end up paying for longer than you need.

Centerparcs at whinfell might fit the brief apart from not being Scotland. The Forest Holiday lodges are nice but tend to not have as much going on or an on site pool but do have hottubs.

I wouldn't recommend Peebles Hydro, it is not as well done as Crieff. I agree with PP who suggested Auchrannie, it really ticks all the boxes.

Piper Dam is great for a short break, lodges are lovely

I dont know if Trump Turnberry is acceptable because of well, Trump, but it is lovely with kids. Also lots to do around like Culzean castle etc.

We love MacDonald Aviemore but perhaps our standards are lower! We've also done Crieff but I have to say I prefer Center Parcs. Bit of a marmite option on MN but we go a few times a year - went recently just as a family of 4 and opted for a nicer lodge than we normally would when we go with friends or family and it was lovely. I treated myself to a few spa treats and kids love it.

https://www.pitmilly.co.uk/

Good outdoor playground, mini golf, tennis, indoor pool inxluding sauna/steam room (you book slots so get it exclusively) and games room. Bike track for kids.

Self catering but has pop-up food (breakfast/themed evenings)

Thank you all 😊 at work and I don’t have time to reply to you all individually but I have noted down all the suggestions 😊

Notes on a few places mentioned:

• CP Whinfell Forest - never been but have our first trip booked this spring so looking for somewhere different 😊
• Edinburgh/City break - we did this at the end of last year. Had a really lovely time. 3 year old had a fab time - especially loved the National Museum! Open to more city style breaks, just not Edinburgh 😊
• Turnberry is certainly a no 😁😂 Culzean is lovely for day trips though, I agree. We stay nearby so visit regularly!
• Piperdam - we’ve been loads. Said the second last time that we’d never be back as it was awful 🙁 filthy lodge, non stop issues. Decided to give it one more go and it was even worse 🙈 so we’re officially done with Piperdam!
• Forgot about Ribby Hall! I’d come across that when researching breaks before. Perhaps a bit further than we’d like for that short a break but I’ll have a look 😊

Open to any other suggestions and will do some research on the rest I have noted down tonight! Thank you all 😊

We're regukar Crieff Hydro visitors. The only place we've found to be similar in Scotland is Macdonald Aviemore which isn't as nice a hotel, but has good facilities and lots to do nearby. I've not stayed at Gleneagles because £££, but it's meant to be a 5* version of Crieff.
I know you said no caravan parks but have a look at Argyll Holidays. The parks are very well kept, the lodges are very nice, and many have hot tubs. Definitely a cut above the average holiday park. We've been to Hunter's Quay and Drimsynie, which was by far the nicest holiday park style place I've been to, and in a beautiful part of the world, though the roads are 'interesting'. Hunter's Quay is bigger and has a lot for kids. It's had a lot of investment since we went and seems to have a lot more facilities now.

Have you thought about Piperdam outside dundee??

Sorry op, just read your update about piperdam

I've been eyeing up Drimsynie and Hunters Quay for a while, staying in a lodge. I'm a bit put off by the pricing system though which is very affordable off-peak and then literally trebles for school holidays. So £400 a week to £1200+ for the following week.

I do understand they can charge more for peak times, that's fine, but it just feels very... grabby! To use a favourite MN word. 😁