Scotland- where to go?

[rebus1]

Thinking of visiting Scotland with our 4DC age 3-11. We like mountains, lakes, beaches, outdoor activities. I've never been beyond Edinburgh. We need it to be quite cheap, we could camp if necessary. Driving from the south so would probably stop over on the way there and back. Any recommendations?

Don't.

Weather is crap.

Midges are awful.

I live here lol

Ignore hilbil Scotland is lovely. (Although bring waterproofs and midge spray)

I would get a base cottage/campsite somewhere like crianlarich (top of Loch Lomond and the trossachs national park) near beaches, lakes and hills. And not too far from endinburgh.

Thanks, crainlarich looks lovely.I don't mind possible bad weather hilbil that's why I'm considering Scotland!

Aviemore
Fort William
Pitlochry
Loch Lomond

All have mountains, lochs and outdoor activities galore!

Achiltibuie!
achiltibuie.net/
coigach.com/

Are you self catering?

I am thinking of places that meet your criteria and whereby supermarkets aren't going to provide too much of a stretch to find.

Some places are jaw dropping in their splendour but there's nothing else for miles around for self catering family holidays.

Fort Augustus or Inverness as they're near loch ness.
Id recommenx near loch Lomond though. Its arguably not as famous as Loch Ness but its stunningly beautiful.

Near loch morlich. It is stunning, at the foot of the Cairngorms, loads of outdoor activities. There is a camp site right next to the loch. There are tons of walks, cycle tracks and water sports on the loch. There is also the funicular railway up to the top of the mountain nearby and there is the steam railway at boat of garten which my kids loved. There is also a mini theme park called landmark about 10 miles away with rides and a nice cafe. You can get a weekly pass, my two still go on about it.

www.campingintheforest.co.uk/scotland/aviemore/glenmore-campsite This is the camp site we have been a few times.

Comrie croft in Perthshire is a fantastic campsite, it's all in the trees and tents only, very eco friendly and just beautiful. they also have pre-built Nordic kata tents with a. Fireplace in them, and a hostel with family rooms if you'd prefer, an amazing cafe. There is absolutely tons to do in the area, it's jut beautiful! We only live about an hour away and go there for nights away regularly. If you get one of the woodland pitches (we try to go for them) you are very well sheltered if it happens to rain, and each of them has a fire pit so you can have a lovey fire and stay warm! Hope this helps!

Oh and about an hour and a half from Edinburgh, and there's good food shops in Comrie (2 miles, easily walkable) or a supermarket in crieff about 8 miles away I think.

I've stayed at Glenmore and Loch Morlich too. We love Aviemore and surrounding and go every couple of years for a wee holiday.

Rothiemurchus is the nicest campsite in the area but is often pre-booked for miles ahead and full. You can always get space at Glenmore though - it's massive.

Oh and we love Comrie Croft as well. Been twice for a week each time. Smashing!

Thanks for all the suggestions. Lots to think about. We would be self catering with the odd meal out Pictish.

That's what we usually doi too. We like to be no more than 15 miles or so from a supermarket or well stocked village store, that you can realistically make family meals from.

Pitlochry has a really nice campsite im sure its parkdean holidays they have static vans we always took our own so i dont know what their own will be like but its central for everything you want and not to far up

Plockton (regatta is the first two weeks in August so busy)

Isle of Arran. Lots for families to do (even in not so good weather). There are campsites at various points around the island. We stay with family when we go there, so I don't have firsthand experience of camping, but I know there's one at Glen Rosa just outside Brodick, which is walking distance (just about) or a short drive/cycle ride away. Co-op and pharmacy in Brodick, also several places to eat (range of prices), miniature golf course, pitch and putt, tennis court, children's playground, bowling green. Other things to do on Arran:

• climb Goatfell (good path), especially on a clear day as the views from the top are magnificent (nearly 3000 feet tall, so not quite a Munro, but it feels like one)
• Glenashdale Falls in Whiting Bay (good path, easy walk) - gorgeous falls when it's been raining a lot, as it has this year
• beaches/shoreline - all round the island the beaches are very varied, which is a talking point in itself
• castles to visit at Brodick (National Trust for Scotland), Lochranza and Kildonan (the last two are ruins)
• cycle trails all over the place through Forestry Commission land
• standing stones at Machrie
• King's Cave at Blackwaterfoot - lovely walk, easy, well signposted
• go over to Holy Isle where there is a Buddhist monastery and you can walk round this otherwise deserted island (short ferry ride from Lamlash)
• just general sightseeing - every village on the island has something of interest.

As you may be able to tell, I'm a big fan!

I think I'm just feeling hard done by at the moment with our lack of summer!

I'm from Fort William originally and live near Loch Lomond now.

I would maybe go to Oban and get the ferry to one of the islands if that's a possibility? I always loved the ferry as a kid

DP and I went to Aviemore last summer.

It was a good base for walking, there were a few outward bound type things in the town (we did a zip wire course), and bike hire.

However, it was very cold and wet (and we live in the Yorkshire Dales so not exactly the Sahara) so that was a bit depressing.

Agree with Elllicam. Aviemore was great. Our DCs really enjoyed but the weather was pretty decent at the time.

Crieff hydro x