5 day solo Scotland trip for an old bird - any suggestions?

[Smotheredmother]

I have the chance to escape the day to day - demanding kids, elderly parents, stressful job and toxic xh for about 5 days over Easter. Absolutely love Scotland and plan to retire there one day once free of ties.
I can get pretty cheap flights into Edinburgh or Glasgow

What I would like: cute seaview cottage, local sea swim opportunities, some yoga classes, craft classes [fit Scottish man...........]

I've seen quite a bit of Fife and From Edinburgh up to Broughty Ferry

Was thinking of going further up this coast?

Or West Coast

Will hire a car

West coast!

Fly into Glasgow then you are so close to the inverclyde and north Ayrshire coast down the firth of Clyde. Lots of lovely choices of coastal villages and towns on the mainland or short ferry hop to Dunoon, Rothesay or Millport. There are active sea swimming groups in a few places too, usually most have a Facebook group.

Gorgeous scenery without much travel distance from the airport.

Craft classes maybe West Kilbride. It styles itself as Scotland craft village and the views from Seamill or just up the hill to Arran are spectacular.

Mull

You could go to Mull

Did I say Mull is nice?
You should go to Mull.
2 weeks isn't long enough ime.
But a long week end(3 nights) is better than no nights...

St Andrews or the East Neuk in general

I second this. Go to Mull. And buy cake from The Coffee Pot in Salen. The best cake in all the land.

www.argyll-house.co.uk/the-coffee-pot

https://www.brockville-tobermory.co.uk/

Has anyone mentioned mull?

Can I come with you please?!

Go to Mull. Mull is nice. Did anyone tell you that Mull is nice? I love Mull. Isle of Mull.

Go to Mull , move directly to Mull, do not pass Go, do not collect £200.

By the way the yellow building is a pub and hotel called the Mishnish. So you can get pished in the Mish. I speak from experience.

Unless you need to go past the rest and be thankful and then you don’t pass anywhere!

Never been to Mull, can you guess what stopped me!

Drive to Fort William then Mallaig. Ditch the car and board the ferry to Inverie. There are places to stay for a night or two to suit your budget and requirements. Soak up the atmosphere of officially the most remote village in the UK - fantastic pub (the Old Forge). If you time it right there may be be a ceilidh in the community hall. Hike into the heart of the wild mountains of Knoydart. You will not be disappointed.
https://m.facebook.com/KnoydartHall

Moray coast. Several nice Seaview cottages in Findhorn, lovely beaches, three pubs/restaurants. Horse box sauna. Although to see more of area you may want a care, fife coast such as Elie is nice too, can then do St Andrews and Edinburgh

There are lots of beautiful parts of Scotland. I love Loch Awe, the Cairngorms and the Kyle of Lochalsh. Lived here all my life and never been to Mull actually. Arran is beautiful too, so is Skye, but both are really busy these days though.

Also, if you find a hot Scottish man then please come back and tell us where you found him!!!

Findhorn. I'd go back there in a heartbeat. Gorgeous pebble beach plus sand dunes, cottages galore. Eco village along the road for all your yoga/crafty needs.

Although Mull is lovely, I vote for Arran. Fly to Glasgow, bus into town, train to Adrossan then ferry over. It’s got everything you could want

Knoydart is amazing. Had an impromptu ceilidh in that pub with 20 shepherds on a stag do. Happy times.

or Mull. Has anyone mentioned Mull.

You can swim just about anywhere.

Yoga and craft classes, I think you'll need to be near a decent sized and fairly affluent town?

A lot of coastal Scotland is run down. Ex tourist towns with no tourists for 50 years or ex industrial towns so Wikipedia the history of the place before you book.

I don't know the Borders area but maybe there?

Nicer coastal towns are

Dumfries, Kirkcudbright, Alloway, North Berwick, anywhere in the east Neuk of Fife, St Andrews, Broughty Ferry, Golspie, Dornoch, Fortrose, Gairloch, Plockton, Inveraray.

The East Neil is beautiful with so many gorgeous wee places to explore. Also handy for St Andrews for a jaunt.

Avoid Broughty ferry, it's nice for a visit but otherwise full of prats.

If you can be bothered with a longer drive (or flying into Inverness/Aberdeen), the Moray coast is beautiful - again loads of wee coastal spots and Inverness nearby.

Sanna on the west coast or Silver Sands / Morar / Mallaig up to Skye.

Regardless of where you go, you'll be welcomed by the Scots and I hope your visit brings you the rest, relaxation and respite you need.

I second this. I've never made it over to Holy Isle (smaller island off the main island) but the Buddhists who own it seem to do retreats, possibly involving yoga. Could be worth a look, but Arran itself gets my vote. The bus service is pretty good (I am a non-driver so have used it a lot). If I didn't have my Mum's house to use as a base, I'd look at staying in Brodick or Lamlash or Whiting Bay, because those are the places with a choice of places for lunch and evening meal, plus shops and more frequent buses. Lochranza is stunning, and definitely worth a visit. Blackwaterfoot has the lovely Kinloch Hotel but not a lot else.

Will be up there soon for a few days - can't wait!

Another vote for Arran! It's idyllic & healing. Cannot wait to return.

Agree with suggestion re East Neuk, though intrigued about your comment re Broughty Ferry being full of prats?

Yes, Findhorn would be my recommendation too. I love it for family trips and solo trips alike. Either look at cottages in the village, or consider the Foundation (Findhorn Bay Holiday Park has cute pods which are lovely for one person, but they also manage some eco houses in the Foundation eco village if you want the more hippy experience 😊). Book yourself a session in the Watershed Sauna (find them in IG), have a plunge in the sea, visit the Moray Arts Centre (they may have classes while you visit), meditate, hike the various trails round the hinterland. Can you tell I love it?!
It’s approx 3.5 hrs drive from Glasgow though, so maybe too far? It’s a great drive over the Dava Moor though - nothing rinses there stresses of city family life out like a long drive over a bleak moor 👍

North Berwick fits with your need for yoga classes etc and the beaches at north Berwick are good for swimming, there are loads of great swimming beaches nearby.

obviously mull and west coast are more dramatic and beautiful but if you just want to chill out and go to nice cafes etc n berwick is perfect and super easy to get to by train.

Sorry just read your post again ! Head west and ignore me