Tell us about your happy family holiday experiences in Scotland and if you haven't been where would you like to go? Chance to win £300 voucher! NOW CLOSED!

[AaronMumsnet]

Going on a family holiday doesn’t have to mean venturing to far off lands, and there can be lots to experience closer to home. Scotland is so easy to get to and can be an ideal family holiday destination. VisitScotland would love to hear about the family holidays you’ve had in Scotland - and if you haven’t been, where in Scotland would you like to visit?

Here’s what VisitScotland has to say: Scotland celebrates the Year of Young People in 2018 #YOYP2018 and what better time to visit to enjoy a fantastic holiday experience across any of its regions. We’re a country packed with family friendly activities; from the great outdoors including wildlife, beaches and country parks to historic castles and stately homes and lots in between. Check out the National Trust for Scotland’s new playful gardens and playparks opening this spring at Brodie Castle in Moray and Newhailes House and Gardens outside Edinburgh. There’s also fantastic opportunity to visit Scotland’s islands – an adventure on a Cal Mac ferry to a west coast island or Northlink for a ferry to the Shetland and Orkney islands is all part of the adventure! What’s more, there's plenty of quality accommodation and unusual ones to boot! Ever thought about staying in a yurt or tipi, a converted church or lighthouse.

Be inspired to find out more on our unmissable family attractions, outdoor adventures and top 50 family hotspots in Scotland – check out www.visitscotland.com/holidays-breaks/family/

What happy memories do you have from a family holiday to Scotland? Do you have tales from visiting some of Scotland’s castles, islands, National Trust sites, beaches or parks? Have you looked into visiting and found some interesting accommodation? Would you like to visit Scotland’s cities or experience the great outdoors?

Whatever your family holiday memories or what you’d like to do in Scotland, share this below and you’ll be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher for the store of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs apply

We've stayed on Scottish islands almost every holiday for the last 10 years! My favourite will always be the little cottage we stayed in on Mull, literally a few feet from the coast. I'd gone out for a meander before bed and heard a really odd noise coming from the sea. Looked out to see a pod of dolphins swimming past maybe 20 metres from the shore!

Now we have DC we have a different experience, but they love the big empty beaches, wide spaces and endless opportunities for boat trips!

Going again in August - can't wait!

I've never been to scotland but I think I might like Edinburgh for a city break one day.

My grandfather used to be a coach driver, taking people on holidays all over the UK but his favourites were Scotland.
We looked forward to him returning with petticoat tail shortbread.
I finally managed to get to Scotland in 2015 for a week near Inverness. We stayed in a cottage overlooking the Moray Firth, Ben Wyvis and fields of golden barley with swifts whirling overhead. The changing scenery was better than anything the tv had to offer.
We spent most of our time in the car visiting Culloden, cairns, castles and the brilliant Folk Museum. Spending a day at Nairn beach and Hopeman Cove has been one of my best days ever. Strange being from the south coast to sit at the beach with the sun behind me.
Our children had a great time and i can say I lost my heart to the place. So much so that we returned with my in laws the next year and stayed on the Black Isle.
Another wonderful holiday and worth the drive.
We are up again this year but for two weeks spending time near Fort William and then back again to the Black Isle. I’m hoping to get across to Skye and for another drive through Glen Strathfarrar.
My dream is for us to have a real travelling holiday when the children are older. There’s so much to see and I can totally see why my Grandfather enjoyed those trips the most.

Scotland is so easy to get to?

Well, for all the MNers who live right across Scotland I would say we wouldn't have to "get to" it at all

Is there a target demographic for this?

I would love to visit some of Scotland's castles! I've never been to Scotland but it has so much history that I would love to explore

My husband is obsessed with the idea of visiting Tobermory - due solely to the link to the programme balamory. I’m more than happy with this idea - it looks gorgeous, and can’t wait to see some of the other islands. Just need to plan it in terms of driving or rail / plane as he doesn’t drive so falls to me.

Oh gosh. I was just thinking about this yesterday and looked at the visit Scotland website. I’ve been watching Outlander you see, which is probably about the best pr you could get for visiting Scotland I was looking up where they filmed and it looks so beautiful it got me thinking about a trip. My dh says the highlands are amazing so I would like to go there, but also to the west coast and the islands off there. If anyone has any specific recommendations I would love to hear them.

Our favourite place so far has been Aviemore as there was so much to do for the whole family. I remember a lovely holiday pre children when DH and I explored the Highlands. We stayed in a lovely cottage on the shore at Loch Carron and felt so relaxed.

My family and I have spent many days out at Loch Lomond and surrounding areas. We'd absolutely love to go further North, to Fort Williams, but have not got round to it yet. Once the kids are a bit older we will explore further, and we also have plans to go off on day trips to the many islands.

The magic that began on the sleeper train was slightly derailed by being woken up and turfed out at some sleepy little station at dawn-o'clock, because of a breakdown. Waiting for a couple of hours in warm drizzle for a local chuff-chuff to take us the rest of the way. Eventually arrived at Gairloch, having hired a car and driven cross-country from, I think, Inverness.

Stir-crazy from 24h of travel, we ran down to the beach. The sand was red! Red like a granite kitchen worktop. The water was clear and icy. We hadn't brought swimsuits or towels, but we went in, anyway.

Back to the house, cold, gritty and salty. Lit the open fire. Washed. Sat by the fire letting our hair dry while we toasted muffins and ate them with local butter and local honey, picked up in the village shop.

Meanwhile the rain that began on the other side of the country, kept on raining. I think we may have had two completely rain-free days in the whole fortnight.

It was a lovely summer holiday.

(Apart from my allergic reaction to the bloody midge bites!)

We’ve been to Scotland before having children so I guess it’s tome to return. Would love to show them Edinburgh castle and the city. Also a trip to Tobermory would be s must as both of my DC adore(d) Balamory!

AmIthat- yeah, exactly

We live in Scotland but still holiday in Scotland. We've been to lots of different areas and there is so much variety, from big cities to remote areas to enjoy the amazing scenery.
Out last couple of weekends away have been on the outskirts of Edinburgh so we had a good mix of history, tourism attractions and country walks. Kids loved it!

Went to Edinburgh for a long weekend with mates whilst at uni - properly on a budget, stayed in the youth hostel but honestly had a great time

When I was little my mum and dad took me to Pitlochry in Scotland, we spent a week in a caravan in the wet and wind but I loved every minute of it. Scotland was so different from what I was used to England, there was amazing scenery which captured my fascination and different foods to try like the tablet! I moved to Scotland this year with my husband, I had such good memories of my time here I was drawn back. Since moving up we haven't had the chance to explore and I would love to take my husband on an adventure round Scotland and relive my childhood holiday!

We spent every holiday in Dumfries & Galloway when we were kids. I particularly remember visiting Newton Stewart and a little animal rescue farm thing in Kirkudbright. I haven't been to Scotland since having children of my own, but we are planning a week in October half term for the entire family and it's looking like it will be Dumfries area, i cant wait!

I have never been to Scotland, probably because I live in Cornwall so it's a long way for me. But if I did go I'd have to go to the Orkneys or Shetland. Just to see how remote they are and because I like ancient history.

I'd love to go to Rothesay. I've only ever been on a day trip house hunting.

We went to Edinburgh during the festival. It was heaving but the DC loved the street performers. We stayed in the old town just off the royal mile. They loved hearing the drums from the tattoo every night and couldn't wait to see it for themselves, it was fantastic. One of our favourite memories was a trip to greyfriar's kirkyard, the DC spooked themselves with a bit of ghost hunting.

I would like to visit Orkney but DH and DC want to return to Edinburgh.

I live in Scotland, but the white sands of Morar had been on my bucket list for years. Finally got the chance to go there last year en route to Skye, and they were just beautiful, as was the whole holiday. May is a perfect time to visit the West Coast as the midges and tourists have yet to descend!

I’d love to visit Arran, and also further up the West Coast, Applecross, and maybe some of the islands. Would love to take the sea plane to Barra and land on the beach

edinburgh has always been on my bucket list. we have family up in scotland also so always hear about the amazing places they go to.

I love Scotland and have had so many memorable holidays there. Once getting snowed in on a farm and playing for two days in the snow with my stepson (who's now 20 and still says it's one of his favourite holidays).
Others visiting Oban sea life centre, Loch Ness, neptunes staircase and many others.
I just love the highlands, it's one of my favourite destinations in the world.

It also holds as the best sunset photograph I have ever taken in my life.

Scotland is my favourite place to be. We go up every year and stay in my friend's caravan on the coast overlooking the Sound of Jura. The views never fail to catch my breath. We cook sausages on the beach and paddle in the sea, and sometimes my friend's cousin who lives there takes us out on his fishing boat to catch mackerel and check the lobster pots. We do day trips over to Mull and some of the other smaller islands too. There's no WiFi, no 3G - heck, you're lucky if you can get a phone signal - but my teens don't even notice, let alone mind. It's just idyllic.

I have had wonderful Holidays in Scotland - we love the Borders, Edinburgh, the area around Elgin and the Spey, Shetland, Argyll and Bute, Dumfries and Galloway (has a v distinctive feel) and our two all time favourites, Skye and Mull.

For the last two years we have spend Easter in a cottage on Mull and it is just he most heavenly spot, watching out for eagles, otters, deer and dolphins, drinking whiskey round the fire, and eating fabulous seafood. Going there again next week and can't wait!

I have never been to Scotland but would like to go and explore in the future