NOW CLOSED Ever been on a family holiday to Scotland? Or fancy going on one? Share your thoughts with VisitScotland - there are 5 fantastic prizes to be won!

[AlexMumsnet]

VisitScotland would like to hear from those of you who've been on a family holiday to Scotland - or are planning one. Here's what they say:

"This year we are celebrating the Year of Natural Scotland and invite you to come and celebrate our outstanding natural beauty throughout 2013. We are a family friendly nation with loads to offer on a family holiday; from wildlife like the bottlenose dolphins of the Moray Firth, to the capercaillie of the central Highlands and the thousands of seals and puffins inhabiting our beautiful coastline. For city seekers, we have seven, all with a wealth of things to see and do on a family break. Visit our website to start your planning today! Also check out Embrace Scotland which has over 2,500 quality assured self catering properties across Scotland."

They're interested to know where you think the best places are for children to visit? Which regions cater for children best? Are you better off wandering the great outdoors with them or visiting a specific attraction? Would they have more fun in the countryside, Highlands or Islands or in one of Scotland?s seven cities?

If you haven't yet been on a family holiday to Scotland but are planning one (or just daydreaming of an escape!), please take a look at VisitScotland's family web section for some inspiration and share your thoughts on this thread.

Good value breaks are easy to find with a range of passes to enjoy savings, and we have 5 of these to give away! Everyone who adds their comments will be entered into a prize draw to win one of:

~ 2 x family passes from the National Trust for Scotland with attractions ranging from the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum to Crathes Castle, Garden and Estate. (worth £168, Valid for one year)

~ A 3 day family Edinburgh pass for entry into a wide range of tourist attractions in Edinburgh from Dynamic Earth to the Edinburgh Dungeon. (worth £158)

~ 2 x 3 day family Explorer Passes from Historic Scotland with attractions ranging from the Royal Castles of Edinburgh & Stirling to the ancient mystical sites of Skara Brae and Maeshowe on Orkney. (worth £116)

Also, if you'd like to be in with a chance of winning a 4* break in Melfort Village, Argyll please enter the separate Mumsnet VisitScotland competition here

Best places are for children to visit? Edinburgh is great, especially the Zoo. We particularly like the Loch Ness and Inverness area which is beautiful and has lots for the children- Castles, Beaches, Mountains, Lochs and Wildlife parks.

Which regions cater for children best? The highlands I think, although I haven't visited any Scottish islands yet, they are probably great too.

Are you better off wandering the great outdoors with them or visiting a specific attraction? A bit of both.

Would they have more fun in the countryside, Highlands or Islands or in one of Scotland's seven cities? Younger children don't always appreciate cities, so I think Highlands or Islands would be best for them. Teenagers however like a bit of shopping.

notcitrus would somewhere like here work for you? Swanston is just outside the city at the foot of the Pentland Hills.

I've not stayed there, but I often go for walks with ds in the area as it's close to my parent's house and the cottages look nice. I can't say off the top of my head how easy it would be with a 1 and 4 yr old to walk down to the bus stop to get public transport into the city centre, but you could certainly park and ride less than a mile down the road which would make it good for a city break without parking hassles.

Also, Mortonhall might be worth considering if you didn't mind a caravan rather than an appartment. Again, just on the outskirts of the city (but on a bus route), but Edinburgh is such a small city that the distance is no hassle for the city centre.

We tend to drive through Scotland on the way to nothern Ireland (SIL lives in Glasgow and we take the ferry from Stranraer - or wherever it's moved to now).

I would love to spend some time exploring the highlands. I remember taking a train across Rannoch moor as a teenager and would love to go back.

I'd also quite fancy trying skiing (our eldest son is severely autistic so we don't fly anywhere) but I have more or less zero idea of how to go about organising a ski trip in Scotland.

We are wild country types, will be taking out camper van up to the highlands this summer and plan to travel up Barra/the Hebrides at some point in the future. Love the views from the Highland trains as well, the Highland Rover is a great ticket for a week's holiday.

Glad to see some recommendations for Moray - I live here and it's great!

So much to do - in Elgin - the museum, cathedral biblical garden, boating pond, play park, swimming pool, soft play, ice rink, cinema, the Oakwoods (with it's wishing tree) for walking, biking, camping in even, Ladyhill monument, plenty of child friendly places to eat out in... then head out to Lossiemouth/Hopeman/Burghead/Findhorn/Roseisle for excellent beaches, have a pony ride, a boat trip, learn to boogie board or surf, excellent ice cream

Further out of Elgin (it's a great place to stay as a base for exploring) there is the Speyside Walk, the dolphin centre at Spey Bay, distillery tours on the malt whiskey trail (yes not for kids I know), Winding Walks at Fochabers, Playbarn and kartracing at Lhanbryde.

Dip into the borders of Aberdeenshire at Keith for the steam railway, Macduff for the aquarium, Huntly for the falconry centre.

As for me going away, I like Glasgow a lot, great city with oodles to do all within walking distance.

Thanks notcitrus, should be fixed now.

We actually live in Scotland AND sometimes holiday/short break in Scotland. We love it and there are SO many places that are child friendly. We especially like visiting up north near Dornoch. Lovely place!

Agree with FoofFighter too, I live in Elgin and its lovely!

We live in scotland too and still go on holiday here! We've just come back from a week on Arran which was gorgeous. The ferry ride to get there causes LOTS of excitement and once we arrived there was plenty to do pottering round on beaches and in streams, visiting caves & waterfalls and drinking lots of hot chocolate to warm up again!

We absolutely adore going to Scotland. Our favourite is going for the Edinburgh Fringe - something for all the family.

I thought that the beaches on Iona were stunning. We went in summer and the pictures are amazing, people think we were in the Carribean or something - the sky and water are so blue. Would recommend to anyone. We went pre-kids but I'd love to return with the DC and watch them scamper.

I live in Scotland and just love Edinburgh. So much history and culture - I hope to move there when the DC leave home and we can afford to downsize. St Andrews is also great with a fabulous beach and going further up North, the scenery is breathtaking. Glasgow is fab too, like an edgier Edinburgh.

Orkney has to be my top tip and children love the magic of the prehistoric sites, and also the islands that you can only reach by boat. The landscape is stunning, there's lots of good walking, the wildlife is exciting for them and there's so much to see that encourages families to talk and have fun together. I've never found the perfect self-catering accommodation, but it must be out there!

We have been to Scotland many times with the boys and done everything from City breaks to camping. One of our favourite campsites in Scotland was recommended on Mumsnet- Comry Croft. Like wild camping but with environmentally friendly facilities and very family friendly.

The boys love Scotland for the history especially - from Edinburgh Castle to The Wallace Monument. We also love the walks in the hills and countryside. And I can get my culture fill from the beautiful architecture in Glasgow and museums and galleries.

High point from our most recent holiday has to be seeing Osprey flying and nesting.

I visited Orkney and Western Isles many years ago, long before kids. I'd love to take DS to see the puffins, and all the other birds. I remember getting bonked on the head by Skuas in Orkney. Does the tiny little plane still land on the beach at Barra?

Also I think DS would love the ancient history, the Ring of Brodgar and Skara Brae, but I worry that it will all have changed and I'll be disappointed. When I went you could wander about among the stones, and touch things, but maybe it has become more commercial and visitor centre/gift shoppy now.

We had a trip to Edinburgh a few years ago, and DS loved the castle and the zoo, plus climbing a small mountain.

We have done a few lovely holidays in Scotland, mainly in the Highlands and on the Isle of Skye. The film Brave has made our DC very very excited to revisit hopefully this year.

Best places are for children to visit? We have enjoyed Loch Ness and also the beaches and walks in Wester Ross/Skye

Which regions cater for children best? The highlands I think, castles, scenery, lovely walks and wildlife tours.

Are you better off wandering the great outdoors with them or visiting a specific attraction? We preferred the great outdoors but did do some attractions too such as Inverewe Gardens and the lovely castles.

Would they have more fun in the countryside, Highlands or Islands or in one of Scotland's seven cities? We have only ever done the Highlands and Islands, we live near a big city so that didn't hold as much appeal.

I used to live in Scotland but last 11 years in north east England. I love going back to Fife, St. Andrews is more than just golf, cobbled streets, and loads to explore. Edinburgh amazing culture and adventures for all the family, everyone should experience the Fringe at least once :-)
Glasgow brilliant fun, science centre is amazing for big & small kids.
I'm planning family holidays driving around the north of Scotland when I've had the baby and can't wait to show my husband even more of the sites.

Loads to see and do in dumfries and galloway.

wester ross is also fab

and glasgow

I'm going to Arran in April. Really looking forward to it. Bit worried about the ferry trip

I lived in Scotland when I was a teenager wish I could go back so much to do there. Not experienced a family holiday yet but on my to do list. Places I can rember going to Edinburgh Castle, princes Street,Linlithgow palace Glasgow Aberdeen Berwick upon tweed Cramond island Scotland is a magical country and so much to see and do as a teenager didn't always appreciate. Give my eyes teeth to go back.

The only time I have been to Scotland, was a brief stopover in Aberdeen.
I would love to see those pandas in Edinburgh!

just realised, reading one of the Katie Goes To....stories to DD that I didn't mean the Wallace Collection at all but Kelvingrove...how did that happen? Total mismerge of locations there....Oops.... Having a senior moment and not even that senior - oops!

I like the Aviemore area for things to do with the kids, there's the Landmark Centre in Carrbridge, the Cairngorm Funicular, the Museum of Highland life in Newtonmore (which is free!), the steam trains at Aviemore and lots and lots of family friendly walks and cycles all around. And then the beach at Loch Morlich too. More than enough to fill a holiday.

Aah Monarch of the Glen country. We got married on the bank of Loch Lagan here in June 2006, at Ardverikie (Glenbogle House)

Wonderful wonderful part of the world, been back several times since and we will be visiting again later this year!

We regularly holiday in Wester Ross - great for long walks on beautiful sandy beaches!