Can we talk Scotland please?

[Thomcat]

So - if a girl, her fella and 3 little ones (1 aged, well she'll be 7 but with SN's so not very good at walking, a 3 year old and a 1 year old, were to holiday in Scotland next year (!) where should they go?

Camping not an option for us for a while so it'll be a cottage type affair.

I would appreciate your ideas on whereabouts in Scotland, (beautiful scenery but child friendly) and if you have any cottage recomendations that would be great too.

Elie on the East Coast is nice www.elielet.com. It is quite small withe some lovely pubs that are child friendly - has a great beach and some good walks nearby.
Great fish and chips
It is also close to St Andrews for a day trip plus other little coastal villages. It is even close enough to Edinburgh if you wanted a days shopping.

Thanks meep, I'll check it out.
Anyone else?

If we talk about Scotland I just get homesick

I love the borders. Not sure where you're based but it's a manageable day drive for us. We're in London. We've been further up and it's more beautiful in some ways. Wilder with lots of lakes and mountains but the drive makes it a little too hard. One of my favourite holiday destinations by the way. We used a company called Sykes Cottages.

What sort of holiday do you want, TC? Do you want to be miles from anywhere? Would your dds appreciate a visit to Balamory/Tobermory? I would certainly recommend Mull, and there are some lovely cottages several MNers have been to, but it's quite a hike.

You must remember that the beaches, though glorious, are always cold. It's a walking in the sea breeze rather than paddling in rock pools sort of holiday.

Edinburgh is great too.

Oooh I so love Scotland.

I would also recommend the Fife coast. There are some lovely fishing villages/small towns - Cupar, Anstruther etc, on the way up to St. Andrews. Falkland (where there is a castle Mary Queen of Scots lived in) has a gorgeous gorgeous setting.

And don't go in the summer. There is no midge repellent strong enough for the little blighters.

Midges are not really a problem on the East Coast though.

NKF - The Borders and Dumfriesshire are very underrated parts of scotland, and get forgotten about by tourism cheifs in favour of the highlands.
Oh and AVON Skin So Soft spray stuff is great for midges -- it works

We went to the Skipness estate on the Kintyre peninsula.

Fabo cottage next to a ruined castle, and 200 M from a pebbly beach. 500M from a sandy beach. No-one to hastle you. The isle of Arran in the bay.

Bloody cold sea!

Not masses to do, but amazingly beautiful and a 'get away from it all' holiday

Some Scotland lovers have this theory about prevaling winds and whether you're a West or East Coat sort of person. I just thought I'd throw that useless piece of information your way.

Oh and the Pollimay House hotel is V child froendly near Lochness

Oh and there is a V nice hotel on Arran, but the name escapes me.

I lived in St Andrews for years and it is terrific

Sorry. Terrible typing. Prevaling and Coast.

I've had my eye on Crieff Hydro

Also St Andrews have this great bakers called Fisher and Donaldson's who do the most divine Fudge Doughnuts don't they MB?

Oh god!!!!!!!!! and I'm on a diet!

A mate brought us some inthe summer. We were on Fudgie relief!

Second the Avon stuff Saltire and it is only the West Coast from Loch Lomond up that's a problem with the wee beasties! We stay way up in Glen Coe, which has the most stunning scenery, but probably a bit quiet for you. Oban is pretty and is the gate way to the Islands, including Mull, so you could try there and maybe take day trips. Mallaig has beautiful sandy beaches and the famous Steam Train goes from Fort William to Mallaig, going over the viaduct they use on Harry Potter. Check out Highlands & Lochaber website for an idea.

Crief Hydro is great. have been with kids. Oldie worldie and V good with kids. Nice pool etc

Crieff Hydro is great ScienceTeacher - fab for kids

The hotel on Arran is Auchrannie. Am not overly keen on Crieff Hydro, but it's years since I went, so it may have improved.

We like the west coast and had a lovely cottage holiday on Loch Fyne a few years back (Strachur). Really handy for day trips to Inverary (gorgoeus planned Georgian loch-side town), Glasgow, further north to Glencoe etc. Of course the original Loch Fyne fish restaurant is nearby.

We've also holidayed in Dunbar (house swap with brother in-law) which is great for Edinburgh (20 minute by train on the mainline) with lovely beaches nearby (particularly liked North Berwick).

We've also done Aberdeenshire and ventured to Aviemore for the day and thought it would make a really good base for a family holiday. Royal Deeside is also a nearby option (Whisky trail, nice towns, Balmoral etc).

You have to be hardy to enjoy East Lothian beaches. I am from Musselburgh, but am now a Home Counties softie!

lol ScienceTeacher (not as per my earlier post )
Windy in the East, rainy in the West! Though if you get the West on a sunny day it is amazingly beautiful (and that is coming from an East-Coaster!)