Five days in Scotland

[lisalisa]

We are thinking of taking the family to Scotland for 5 days starting April 22 when kids have school hols. Wondering what area to aim for and what there is to do. Quite like the idea of wildlife safaris and some gentle walking - I'm rather overweight so no mountain climbing - unusual landscapes, Loch Ness if poss . Not sure beyond that really where to base ourselves but plan is to train up from London them maybe hire a car. Any ideas / pointers pls? So far I've learnt that the midges around Loch Lomond are terrible and that's about it !

[lostscot]

www.highlandsafaris.net/

[lostscot]

You really need a couple of days without a car to appreciate Edinburgh first, then head north. We went on a fab wildlife safari in a land rover and the guide was brilliant with the kids. I'll have a look for the link...

[MeanwhileHighAboveTheField]

Chanonry point for dolphin watchjng

[Notveryhappyvalley]

I highly recommend Aviemore area. We went last year for a week in August and definitely could have filled more days.

We had a wildlife packed week and did dolphin watching at Cromerty (?) Point (which was amazing - they swim really close to the shore), Highland Wildlife Park (Zoo and safari park), Reindeer centre (including feeding reindeers) and DSis and DBil did a night time wildlife safari thing and saw badgers and pine martens (was too late for our DCs). We also saw red squirrels and several birds of prey just out and about.

I use a wheelchair so no big mountain climbing for me but we did a wheelchair friendly walk at Glenmore forest park and they had lots of routes for all abilities. We also had a day at Landmark Adventure Park which was fun but very busy (was the last day of the Scottish school holidays) and a day at Loch Ness/Urquart Castle.

We weren't particularly bothered by midges and this was August and quite hot all week.

We had a lovely holiday and all said we'd definitely go back to the area again.

[howabout]

Aviemore is great for a Centreparcs type DIY hol. PP have beaten me to posting links.

Seriously there are no midgies in April (even in Loch Lomond). You will need your waterproofs though and it might also be cold, or you could get very very lucky and have wall to wall sun.

[lamusic]

Another version of the Skye boat song
www.educationscotland.gov.uk/scotlandssongs/primary/genericcontent_tcm4555681.asp

[UnderTheGreenwoodTree]

We wanted to go on whale-watching trip - but they were all closed in Feb. I think they run from April onwards.

[UnderTheGreenwoodTree]

We did Loch Ness in February. It was snowy It was fab - a beautiful place.

We did: driving round Loch Ness, one of the the Loch Ness Cruises, the visitor's Centre and Nessieland, Urquhart Castle. In Aviemore, there is Landmark Adventure Park (my 14yr old enjoyed it) and Cairngorm Reindeer Centre where you get to feed the reindeer.

There is so much more to do as well, we wanted another week there.

[MyLlamasGoneBananas]

If you are as far up as Inverness and Cairngorm take a trip to Findlater Castle near Cullen on the NE Coast.

[lamusic]

Aviemore sounds a good place for you

[notcoolintheslightest]

Ah a fellow highlander Youmakemydreams I'm north of Aviemore.

Lots of great ideas for you OP. It's just trying to cram it all into 5 days 😊. Hope you have a great holiday.

[PennyHasNoSurname]

Stay in Newtonmore or Aviemore. The Highland wildlife park and the landmark park are both near. Can go up the Cairngorms. Couple of Lochs to walk around. Fishing in Aviemore.

[originalmavis]

No, they were bloody heavy and I almost got jammed in the sheep creep! I was leaping over craggy bits with a huge backpack, with water running down sheer rock next to loch Lomond (with a drop to the loch. I must've been mad. I lost 3 toenails (I have omitted to tell littlemavis that fact).

[georgedawes]

Wow you are hard-core! Don't think I'd have made it if we'd done that! Hope you enjoy it. I'd love to do it again.

[originalmavis]

We carried our packs last time. 'Somebody' decided it would be cheating if we didn't.

[georgedawes]

Bet they will love it! Are you carrying you bags or using a sherpa company? No way could we have carried it. The only places I didn't like were the Rowardennan hotel and kingshouse. Although they may be better now!

[originalmavis]

Probably late summer. We've done it before (pre child) and said 12 year old will be coming along. I rember one God awful stop that had a campsite and all night disco.

[georgedawes]

I've done it mavis! I can honestly say it was one of the best holidays I've had. Brilliant fun and great not to have the car for a bit and just soak up the scenery. When are you doing it? If you can, start mid week as it is easier to book accommodation.

[originalmavis]

We are planning doing the whw this year, if anyone has by recommendations.

[lisalisa]

Thank you so much everyone and littleredhen that sounds fantastic! I'm now blinded by science ! There's so much to see and do !

[MashesToPashes]

Ooo HarrietSchulenberg Have you been to the Raider's Road.

The Otter pool is lovely. Lots of paddling opportunities, and our dog had a lovely time fetching stones as big as his head out of the water and presenting them to me.

[thelittleredhen]

I know that you wanted walks but thought I'd tell you about our (that is me and DS who was 6 at the time) trip to Scotland a couple of years ago...

Day 1 - Dundee. A real odd place but we had a wonderful walk along the sea and they have HMS Discovery which tells the story of the race to find Antarica
Day 2 - Perth. It was sunny on this day and so it was lovely! We visited again last year and went to the Black Watch museum which is all about the highland army and there's some stunning scenery - and a good park.
Day 3 - Inverness. Coach trip to Loch Ness and Urquart Castle, and a visit to Leaky's Bookshop. Haggis at the local Weatherspoons for afters! Fantastic!
Day 4,5&6 (looks like we went for 6 days not 5!) - Edinburgh. We went to Edinburgh Castle, Real Mary Kings Close learning all about the Black Plague (DS is still an expert), had an amazing walk up to Arthur's Seat, all of the little free museums down the Royal Mile and even saw the pandas at the zoo.

We stayed at Travelodge and travel by train with a rail card and keep some costs to a minimum. Don't forget that if you have English Heritage membership you get into Historic Scotland properties half price during first year of membership and free in subsequent years.

We love Scotland and keep going back every year exploring a bit more each time. Our next trip will include Aaron and Mull I think....

[YouMakeMyDreams]

Desperate to know which direction form Aviemore notcool lives. I'm in the highlands and about an hour away.
papergirl you're not missing much at the Black Isle wildlife park it's name is grander than it sounds. Children love it but it does always feel like a bit of a let down and seems expensive for what it is although I believe they have upgraded the play area over the winter and we did have fun playing with baby goats in a barn last time we were there.

[lisalisa]

Fantastic all thank you

[Papergirl1968]

We stayed on the Black Isle just north of Inverness for five days last August - staying at the lovely Station Hotel in Avoch,, pronounced Ock. We did a Loch Ness cruise, a dolphin watching trip from Avoch, visited Landmark Forest adventure forest, near Aviemore etc. I think there's a wildlife park on the Black Isle but we didn't make it there. We would like to go on the furnicular railway at Aviemore another time. fort William is also within easy reach. We flew to Inverness on Flybe from Birmingham. easy jet fly there from Luton and Gatwick. Didnt hire a car this time as a friend who lives up there drove us around but car hire seemed reasonable from the airport.