Scotland for two weeks next summer - itinerary ideas please

[GolfForBrains]

We are thinking about having our family holiday in Scotland next year (we live in London). Children (will be 13 and 15) have never been, we parents have only been to Edinburgh. I am at a bit of a loss as to where to go as I don't really know what's a must see or how to put a route together - we are also considering going by train and then either hiring a car or doing more by train - how doable would you say the latter is please?

And also inspired by another thread I have just read on here - is August in Edinburgh to be avoided? We were thinking of a few days there either at the beginning or the end.

Thanks for any help!

Thanks @useyourfork - given I still say your user name more often than I ever dreamed I would, I think teenagers are a lot closer to 6 year olds than you would think

Kayaking on the coast or white water-rafting on the rivers might appeal to your teens?

I've just booked 2 weeks in Scotland - we're staying in the borders (had a brief visit there before and it was lovely so we're going back. Then visiting Dundee, as a base for that area (figuring that if the weather is totally rubbish there will be indoor things to do, being a city), the area around St Andrews and Pitlochry for some outdoorsy 'stuff'.

I looked at going as far as Inverness, but decided it was just too far.

I also looked at Dumfries and Galloway, but couldn't find accommodation I liked (we're going next week), but it looks great there.

Arran is lovely, and can easily be done in conjunction with Glasgow, as can Loch Lomond (also very nice).

There is so much to see and do - good luck planning it all out!

I've jsut done a 2 week road trip round Scotland and would be more than happy to help if you want to message me!

Aviemore is fab

Edinburgh is definitely the best city to visit. Great atmosphere in the festival but very busy. The East Coast (Fife) just north of Edinburgh is very pretty with good restaurants.
If you really want a sense of spectacular Highland scenery then you have to go up the West Coast. The drive through Glencoe is atmospheric and amazing . Then you head to Fort William ( bit of a carbuncle) and you can either go on up to the Skye bridge and over onto Skye, which is very beautiful , or head up to the Applecross peninsula and drive the Bealach na ba if you want a very scary drive.
Edinburgh will give you culture , West coast will give you amazing scenery . Lots to do on Skye.
You need a car after Edinburgh. Roads around there are fine but further up there will be lots of single track roads tracing a craggy coastline. But that’s all part of the fun.