Scottish islands with 7 and 8 yo...

[awfulomission]

… next year?

Did Portugal this year and I'm not a fan of the desperate heat. I really don't want to head south next year on holiday but we love beaches, animals, nature, rock pools, small towns/villages, good food on holiday.

Had a pootle about online and think this might be our next stop. Except apart from the pretty pictures I know nothing.

Can anyone fill me in? Ideas? Experiences?

TIA

Self catering may be better for us too. DC2 has significant SN, is a VERY fussy eater and likes a quiet life.

(We live rurally).

We go to either Harris or Skye at Easter and stay self catering. Check out Mol-ban on Harris and Argyle Cottage in Uig on Skye. Happily recommend either and return to whichever is available when we decide we need a break!!
Harris has great beaches on the West Side and an amazing 'caterer' at Croft 36 Northton (phone number everywhere once on the island) were they will deliver freshly made meals to your house but they also have a little hut at the bottom of the garden where you can buy whatever is fresh that day (fish wise) and also home baking. Hubby and daughter wild camped on Harris a few weeks ago and they brought their food right to their beachside pitch!! The house on Harris has a group of about 8 seals that live in the bay (most days they appear at low tide to bask on the rocks). Great walking around the bays direct from the house (exploring ruined crofts and hidden bays).
There is more to do on Skye and it is slightly more accessible but maybe the remoteness of Harris and Lewis would appeal more....getting there is half the adventure for kids (and my husband!!)
Feel free to ask any more questions ( I could probably talk all day on this subject)!!

Is Balamory still a thing? Tobermory on the island of Mull is where it was filmed. Nice beaches etc there too

We go to islay most years with our boys, 2 and 6, lovely beaches, harbours etc but possibly not enough to entertain older children if the weather's not good.

Harris, uists etc amazing! Great beaches, very beautiful islands. I did a cycle trip from harris to barra staying in gatliff trust hostels for a few pounds a night. Roads are quiet and flat and you can hire bikes there. Would be long or expensive to get there though.

Mull is supposed to be great. And Skye of course would have much more in the way of visitor centres and activities whilst still having plenty of open space and solitude!

Ah, all that sounds good. We (I!) had a bit of a read last night and thought about Mull but the others are tempting me now.

We all cycle too, including younger boy so that would be a good activity.

Thanks all.

One of the hostels is here at Howmore on South Uist. For inspiration!

We hired bikes from Rothan cycles, and the guy left the bikes for us on North Uist at the start of the trip and then picked them up from Eriskay at the end.

Arran is lovely and relatively easy to get to - only about an hour on the ferry. Some lovely beaches - especially Kildonan if you like wildlife. When we were there we must have seen at least a hundred seals. And a sea otter.

There is also plenty of cycle hire. We hired bikes on the west side of the island at Lochranza then took them on the small ferry that goes to the Kintyre peninsula and cycled up to Skipness. Very easy cycling and the seafood cabin at Skipness served the most fantastic food.

There is also lots of good walking, pony trekking and other outdoor activities.

I really like the sound of the bikes and ponies-my two boys will love that!

we've had family trips to Arran for the last 7 years and we still haven't seen everything, it's lovely for a family break if you're into biking, beaches (dinosaur footprints) and exploring :)

That's a great nn, victory.

I just need to plot my journey. We are in kent, so are thinking about doing train then hiring a car.