What area of Scotland would be nice for an autumn break?

[VivaLeBeaver]

would the midges have gone by then so we could consider the west coast.

We like walking (not huge mountains), mountain biking. Really like nature, so somewhere we could do some nature watching would be good. Would also be nice to have some touristy type things to do in the area for bad weather days.

Oh and if anyone can recommend a specific cottage that would be fab.

I've always fancied the idea of stopping on one of the islands but just think there might not be enough to keep us occupied for a week.

We spent a week on Mull in June, which I would think will give you plenty of potential for walking and wildlife, but also rainy day options (distillery in Tobermory, some castle which I forget the name of, we even popped over to Oban for the day on a really rainy day). Not sure if the weather will accommodate boat trips, but the boat out to Staffa and the Treshnish Isles is amazing.

We stayed in a cottage on the Benmore Estate - it was lovely, and well positioned for getting round the whole island (although I'd forgotten how bloody long it takes to get from one end to the other).

We also stayed for a few days on Islay, but to be honest, apart from the distilleries (and I kind of think if you've seen one, you've seen 'em all!) there is not a whole lot to do, and we struggled to entertain ourselves for 4 days.

Mull sounds nice, though I think my main problem with Scotland is not getting fired up about either distilleries or castles. Which appear to be 95% of the tourist attractions.

I've just found a nice looking zoo toe place over near cairngorm so am investigating other places near there.

Aviemore would be perfect loads to do and loads of nice walks and at that time you'll probably get a good deal in the McDonald resort

Aviemore is wonderful.

Highland Wildlife Park, Highland Folk Museum at Newtonmore, Funicular Railway at Cairn Gorm, Loch Morlich, Landmark at Carrbridge, steam train, various outdoor pursuits, rspb place.

Lots of log cabins around there for hire.

Dumfries & Galloway is beautiful and great for mountain biking: look at 7 Stanes site. Lots of other activities too, days out for families, beaches and stuff.

I'm with JollyGoodFun here

Newtonmore, Kingussie, Lagan and if you find time, look up the Ardverikie Estate on Loch Lagan - absolutely gorgeous stately house where BBCs Monarch of the Glen was filmed. Holiday cottages available and basically just wonderful!!

I am biased, we got married there!!!

Really go for it and try Western Isles, Orkney or Shetland. Totally different from the mainland and each other.

You might score with the weather and see amazing beaches, killer whales, dolphins, birds, otters. Brilliant for small scale walking and they have some really impressive local museums, seafood, archaeology, craft shops, all sorts.

If the weather is rubbish, well there is always sudoku...

Harris. The most wonderful part of the UK, IMO.

If it is just two of you, and you can afford it http://www.stay-hebrides.com/ these cottages are meant to be amazing.

No castles or distilleries, just golden beaches, clear water and stunning scenery.

It is just spectacular, though maybe a bit of a long haul to get to.

Otherwise Aviemore is an excellent suggestion (can't pass judgement on other places suggested but have heard good things about Islay and Mull)

Dumfries and Galloway is gorgeous. We have stayed in Portpatrick which is a pretty seaside village near Stanraer. We did a day trip to Belfast from there on Stena. Have a look at their day trips section on the website.

We camped so can't help on cottage.

Cairngorms National Park - Aviemore or surrounding area. As others have mentioned, activities coming out of your ears but also miles and miles of biking, endless walks, abundant wildlife and a huge selection of accommodation. Beautiful and wild but loads to do and see.

Those cottages are gorgeous. £1600 for the 2 bed the week before half term puts it well out my price range.

Think we will look for somewhere in teh Avimore region. Thanks.

I adore Galloway like Marian. The hills are brilliant for walking, it's not very touristy, if it's filthy weather you can go to kirkudbright for artists, sweetheart abbey for ruins, a Tibetan monastery in eskdalemuir for general eccentricity and veggie food.

We have stayed in apartments in a huge house that used to belong to Steve ovett at one point, built by the marquess of queensbury who sued Oscar wilde. It's quite near Annan. It has a small swimming pool and a gym and pool table so again good for wet days.

If you can give budget and space required I'll try to get you links tomorrow. Lots to choose from :)

Dumfries and Galloway definitely! We stayed in a place called Red Castle Cottage on a farm.in Castle Douglas a few years ago. It was pretty basic but cheap. Only 1 bed, but there were others on the same farm.

Thanks poached eggs. It's just me and dd. Don't mind sharing a room but would peter twin beds. Budget £500. Would like somewhere quite rural/isolated/in a forest.

Another vote for Dumfries and Galloway over here - like Hermione said, Portpatrick's lovely. I stayed here 2 years ago, and I grew up holidaying in the cottage just down the road.
Cottage in the link is a)fantastically clean, b)has amazing views of the sea, and c)has everything you'd need for a holiday. I spent a couple of hours watching red kites and most evenings I just watched the enormous hares that were running round the fields at the back. It's definitely good as the guest book shows that people come back time and time again.

Lots of good walking, biking and sea-related activities. Brilliant beaches especially Sandhead, oh, I could go on all day.

If I ever win the lottery I will buy the house (childhood holiday cottage) down the road and stay there till I die.

Dumfries and Galloway does look nice, but maybe more for the summer so as to make better use of the beaches???? What are the midges like there?

Saying that its a lot closer than Avimore....

Not massively isolated (Owner's house is adjacent and other units could be occupied) but spectacular views and high spec, and very very rural (nearest cash point 20 minutes drive IIRC!)

same area, more isolated

More in the thick of things in this location but amazing scenery and still very rural

these people are nice and great location for cycling and walking

more Southerly, beautiful area and close to a great mountain biking centre, also lovely people

Things to do - see tigers and polar bears, go to a giant playground, do some serious mountain biking, the usual outdoorsy stuff, really great free attractions, some scary fast mountain biking!, go to the beach, watch ospreys, meet Rudolf, or just chill out at the pool.

Just a few ideas. It is a wonderful place :)

I really hope those links all work!

No discernible difference between summer and winter in Dumfries & Galloway Midges not as bad as up north.

If it's too wet you could always make chocolate at the Cocoa Bean Factory.

Or the Galloway Activity Centre has lots of fun outdoorsy stuff: don't know how long in year it stays open tho.

Thanks for all the links. I love the Lazy Duck place but I love the Woodman's Hut best of all but its booked for the week I want.

We stayed here last week and it is fantastic

www.kirkbridecottages.co.uk/dundrumcottage.cfm

We've stayed here in the Trossachs, which was lovely. Only half an hour from Stirling for wet weather days and not too far from Perth/Glasgow/Edinburgh if the weather is really awful!

Dumfries and galloway imo is totally underated. Lots to do. Another fab holiday is to buy a ferry hopscotch ticket. We started in ullapool went to lewis / harris and worked our way down the islands to Barra then ferry back to Oban. Was wonderful.

For family cycling, you can't really beat the rothiemurchus estate near Aviemore and you have the cairngorm massive if you want serious walking. The Lairig ghru walk is low level and good for families