Scotland

[Beetroot]

We are planning a week in Scotland at Whitsun

We want to go to Oban, take boat to Fingal Caves and to Puffin island.

Would like ideas on where to stay on the islands. Anywhere to do some climbing nearby

Any other places to visit.

Will have four adventurous and curious kids

kyles of bute sailing club welcomes children - veyr popular

Np - fabulous _ I will look into this when I am home and book some tstuff.

We arein Aberfoyle now and off to France in themorning

im glad you are having a wee tour - you must like scotland if you are planning to come back!

pity about the weather though

they have broadband in aberfoyle ?

I'm busy lookinf ofr the lovely beach we stopped off at once. Will try and link when I find it

the beach in this picture is near Mallaig

Around the Mallaig area, which is further up from oban, but driveable in a day, there is some stunning sceneray, beaches and inland lcohs . The sands up there are almost white

"lchos"! Obviously I was trying to type Gaelic there. It should say Lochs

aw salty that is lovely
iagree about the sand - the beaches on stornaway blew me away - pure white snow - like caster sugar - unreal

actually, not sure if it was stornaway - soemwhere on lewis - garry beach i think its called....?

We honeymooned in Oban 4 years ago and just up the coast, in the car just 5-10 mins is a small cove/beach - grassy dunes lead to little beach with rocks/sand etc. Lovely little beach, not busy, great rockpooling, saw the seals in the sea - great stuff.

One day, I'm gonna go on th Jacobite Train. We stay at the other end of the line near Fort William, but its soooo expensive. I think its nearly £80 for the 3 of us. (I think thats expensive anyway!)

it cost us £70 to go to Mull on the ferry with the car, Mo

You could take a trip on a steamship and cycle back to the starting point(14 miles) on a traffic free path - beautiful views. Totally amazing . They hire the bikes too www.lochkatrine.com/

lvin' the background music colette

When we went to Mull we didn't go in the big
ferry from Oban we drove to a place called called Lochaline. it involves getting the Corran ferry south of Fort William then driving along approx 30 miles of road along part of the Ardnamurchan Peninisula (very wild and bleak but lovely too). This is mostly single track road and a bit "up and down" in places but a beautiful drive, and the ferry from Lochaline to Fishnish is only about 20 minutes, and then a short drive into Tobermory.

Np there is also a man called"scottie" in the ferry carpark who drapes the tourists in tartan ( with a frilly bonnet for the ladies) to match his highland get up. but it is a gorgeous place

beetroot if you mean proper walking then you can climb Ben Mor (sp?) on Mull - it's a munro (only island one outside the Cuillins iirc) and has fantastic views from top over all the hebrides right up to Lewis - well worth the effort if the weather's clear.

We've just come back from a week in Connel, staying near Ardchattan Priory, about 10 miles from Oban. There are some walks in Sutherland's Grove. I think it belongs to the Forestry Commission. It's about a mile or so past the Sea Life Centre, with the SLC on your left and Sutherland's Grove on your right. There are 4 different walks and a small picnic area. DS1 (age 5) loves it. DS2 (9 months) a bit bemused by it all.

Also Glen Nant. Not been on that one but there are leaflets available from the Tourist Office in Oban.

Another vote too for the Rare Breeds Park.

Hope you have a good time.

Naily - I know!

The weather has been amazing - sun sun and more sun

we love Scotland and when we return I am going to go through all these suggestions adn sort out a plan

A word of warning - ferry timetables in the isles are subject to the weather, which can be be changeable (and very quick to change) all year round. So, if you're planning to island hop, come prepared to change your plans at the last minute!

I'll ask DH about climbing. What level are you clinbing at? Do you want something challenging? Would it be for top-roping or leading? If you're into ice climbing, there's a wall for that at Kinlochleven.

climbing for would be for the two oldest ds's who have passed their indooor badge - done a course for three days. and then climbed but only inside and ds3 who will be 11 and dd who will be 9would like to join in or do their own thing

I would likie ot watch!!!!

This is the only indoor place I can find up there

sorry didn't make myslef clear - I would like them and they would like to do some outdoor stuff though

If they haven't been outside climbing yet, it'd be better if they went somewhere nearer home with someone who can climb and teach. There's a great wall in Edinburgh that's an old quarry face but has a roof over it. Also, for outdoor, you'd need a few bits of kit that they maybe don't have. I'll ask DH if he knows of any good bits round Oban where they could do a bit of bouldering. It'd give them a taste of climbing on rock but without the height and need for allsorts of clanky metal things, ropes and helmets.

I'm probably not understanding the sort of thing you'd like as my blonde brain is switched on at the moment.