Scottish islands with a 4 year old?

[PenguindreamsofDraco]

I have always wanted to go and we are contemplating for this summer. My 4 year old is very much of the 'carry me to the end of the road' type so long walks will not be on the agenda. He'd enjoy seeing whales and otters and puffins for a short time, but not all week.

What on earth would we do with him there if we went?

Does anyone have any recommendations for (a) island; and (b) hotels?

Many thanks!

Well Auchrannie resort on Arran auchrannie.co.uk/ has just won best hotel of the year and Arran itself wins many awards for visitor satisfaction. It is easily accessed from the mainland and is large enough that there is plenty to do and see. www.visitarran.com/what-to-see-do

Orkney is a great island for kids - a beach for every day of the year - most are sandy, loads have pebbles and rock pools too - lots have shells to collect, there is the Brough of Birsay - with a tidal causeway that is exciting for kids since the change of the tide is quick and they can watch it cover or uncover..... loads of other sites - Ring of Brodgar for instance where the kids can run freely round the stones - touching is compulsory! There's an aquarium, a fossil place, the Italian chapel and Churchill barriers, the tomb of the eagles where you pull yourself in on a trolley - lots of fun! There are cairns where you practically crawl in too - they don't take ALL day to go round, so are great for kids attention spans.

Kirkwall is a biggish town with a Tesco, Co-op, Lidl and a Boots, self catering accommodation is abundant. There's a public swimming pool and soft play too. (And fish and chips and Pizza places as well as loads of local restaurants with local produce)

Not the Islands but we've taken our DCs to the West Coast (Ardnamurchan) every year since they were born and they love it. When they were smaller they just spent hours collecting stones and sticks, throwing stones into lochs, playing on swings and generally exploring. As they've got older long walks are more manageable.

Cumbrae is the only island I know but lovely for 4yos - it's like a 1950s town with a sweet shop, ice cream shop, toy shop (also a cafe with wifi), but also beach with rock pools and dabs, little hills to explore, and a little aquarium/research station.

You can cycle round the island easily and hire bikes with a child trailer or tag-along.

Largs is only 10 min by ferry, and can also get to Arran for more nature-watching.

Arran is great with kids and really esay to get to - an hour from Glasgow and then another 55 mins on the ferry from Ardrossan. Lots to do - south is more touristy and north is wilder and more mountainous with lovely walks. great beaches on the west coast. Auchrannie is great and they do often have deals, especially outside school hols.
Mull is great for wildlife (seals, eagles, whale/seal watching trips from Tobermory (which is also Balamory) and quite a lot to do. Also lovely beaches at Calgary.
Harris has the best beaches but it's a long way away, quite bush, and there's a limit to what you can do if you don't want to do lots of walking/ourdoorsy stuiff.
Skye is probably the most geared up for tourists - easy to get to (bridge!). Lots and lots of visitor places, beaches are OK (eg at Glen Brittle) but the weather is a bit of a microclimate - the Cuillins seem to generate their own clouds. If you get lucky it's lovely but it's often pissing down. however, drive a few miles on the west coast and you can often find quite different weather.
Islay - bit dull. Unless you like whisky, in which case it's probably heavenly.
The further south/east your island, the lower the risk of being plagued by midges.
I'd consider the mainland too - Applecross is heavenly, also Kintail, and further south, Argyll is lovely in places. Ardnamurchan is also lovely but we almost died of midges the last time we were there.

I had completely forgotten I started this, thank you so much for the responses! So much to think about! I'm actually quite excited about the idea as long as the locals don't hate me for my extremely Southern accent