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UK travel

Welcome to our UK travel forum where you can get advice on everything from holidays to exotic destinations, to tips on London travel.

Original poster

Can we talk Scotland please?

67 replies

Thomcat · 13/01/2008 10:03

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.

OP posts:
Original poster
Thomcat · 13/01/2008 21:02

Wow, thanks, will have some fun checking out these places, thanks everyone.

OP posts:
Scramble · 13/01/2008 21:59

Balbeg all on the one level fabulous setting. We stayed inthe huge wooden one when there was a crowd of us.

Depends if you want to go lots of places or kick back and relax while kids play.

MrsSpoon · 13/01/2008 22:03

Just want to add my votes for Elie, Mull (although a bit pricey since Balamory moved in) and Arran, you'll probably need the midge repellant for Arran!

Enjoy!

seb1 · 13/01/2008 22:08

MY firend went here and said it was great pitmilly

seeker · 13/01/2008 22:13

Another vote for St Andrews.
Pitenweem, Anstruther and Crail and all those little fishing villages on the east coast are fab.

But Skye is absolutely amazing too.

And we went to Inverness this summer and had a very good tiem indeed.

Habbibu · 13/01/2008 22:19

Adding in votes for Fife East Neuk (St Andrews, etc). Saltire, much as I am an adopted Scot, everytime I see fudge doughnuts in F&D, I'm reminded I have no Scottish blood at all. Bleee.

Scramble · 13/01/2008 22:23

Crail is gorgeous, I used to spend every summer there, anybody over the age of 10 or under 60 will be bored stupid . Not very central if you lan to visit cities but other places like Cambo near.

MrsMuddle · 13/01/2008 22:41

Another vote for Arran (and the lodges at Auchrannie).

Scramble · 13/01/2008 22:46

Arran is nice, Ok if stating there all week, expensive to take car back and forward on the ferry. Day trip to glasgow or ayr possible by leaving car at ferry port on arran, ferry over then train onwards.

BaDaBing · 13/01/2008 23:01

Dunoon is fab, very close to Glasgow with loads of fab walks (recommend Pucks Glen) and the Botanic Gardens is a great place to spend a day. Is close to lots of great villages and just a short drive to the Loch Fyne Oyster Bar.

Recommend Tree Tops Lodge very reasonable and plenty of space

Twinklemegan · 13/01/2008 23:02

The Spey Valley and the Cairngorms are fantastic. Loads to do as well.

NKF · 14/01/2008 20:18

I'm loving this thread. I had no idea there were so many Scotland lovers on Mumnset. Those lodges look very nice. The hydro doesn't look that cheap. Is it worth it?

Original poster
Thomcat · 14/01/2008 21:01

VERY excited to go to Scotland now

OP posts:
Habbibu · 14/01/2008 21:51

Many Scots on Mumsnet, NKF! Thomcat, when are you thinking of going?

webchick · 15/01/2008 21:06

another vote for Elie and east neuk of fife, v pretty and child friendly. Spent all my childhood holidays there.

utterlyconfused · 15/01/2008 21:11

Elie and Aran are very popular places. I know lots of people who live in Scotland but go to one or other of these every year.

bobsmum · 15/01/2008 21:12

Thomcat - Isle of Arran - absolutely gorgeous. Scottish tourist board call it Scotlan in miniature. YOu have scenery, fab restaurants and hotels as well as lodges/cottages.

Tamum's suggestion of auchrannie spa is fab.

I had my honeymoon there in the butler's apartment of Brodick CAstle.

The Waverley (last sea going paddle steamer in the world!) also stops and does day cruises.

Also has it's own micro climate compared to the rest of the West of Scotland, so much warmer.

Will find some photos

bobsmum · 15/01/2008 21:17

Wiki entry on Arran

Auchrannie

And don't forget the Arran Aromatics factory shop, the distillery and the brewery

pointydog · 15/01/2008 21:20

I would go for St Andrews or environs. Because:

  • weather might well be crapola and while Mull is quite stunning it soon becomes miserable in the rain with very little to do and many several young children to entertain

  • even in Arran you might struggle to keep small children busy and happy if the weather is lousy and you can't enjoy the beaches, walks, etc. There's a co-op on Arran and you'll obv get all the basics but the much more limited shops put a strain on my self catering abilities.

*St andrews - stunning beaches too, castle, abbey, lovely shop selection, Craigtoun Park huge and great for kids. Lots and lots of tourist attractions nearby which should cover you for all weather and appeal to young children. I would also imagine, as it is less remote and wild, it would be better for someone with mobility problems. A bit tricky getting to some of the best beaches on arran.

Lots of people are put off Scotland due to holidays in cold and wet weather, which is a shame. St andrews a much safer bet all round.

pointydog · 15/01/2008 21:21

also, in practical terms, you;d save money on ferry crossings which are not cheap.

pointydog · 15/01/2008 21:21

St Andrews is pretty posh, you'll have large selection of lovely cottages to rent.

bobsmum · 15/01/2008 21:23

Obviously there's Millport, but I'm keeping that to myself

bobsmum · 15/01/2008 21:23

You won't meet anyone Scottish in St Andrews though

pointydog · 15/01/2008 21:27

Hey, come now, bobs. If they go in summer the english students will be away.

And they can always go the Fife fishing villages to meet real Scots

rantinghousewife · 15/01/2008 21:30

Vote for the west coast, we hired a cottage (a friends) in Dorney, near the kyle of localsh, twas fabulous.
Have since been a huge fan of the highlands.