Where to go in Scotland?

[janx]

Never really explored Scotland - thinking of going in August. Fly somewhere from London and hire a car.
will have a 3 year old and 8 month old - any suggestions for us?

Your 3 year old would love Tobermory - aka Balamory. But it's a long drive from Glasgow (drive to Oban and then get the ferry to Mull).

All sort of castles, mountains, and beauful countryside to explore on the West Cpast of Scoltand. beautiful beaches with lovely sand for kids to play on - and paddle in - but (espcailly for the adults) too cold to swim in.

august is the edinburgh festival

not to be missed

also dont miss glencoe

or stirling castle from afar

perthshire is beautiful

Ah I wondered where balamory was - are there a lot of midges around in August - bugs love me

Glencoe looks lovely - would it make a good base?
I guess the Edinburgh festival gets packed

a good base is perthshire

the festival IS packed but its worth it - LOADS for children and the atmosphere is wonderful

Midges depend on the weather - if it is windy they don't bother you. I think I've just been lucky living in Scoltand as I never seem to have expereinced the nightmare clouds of midges that some people complain about.

Having said that, last Tuesday night there were a few out and I go about 4 bites - which are still itchy

West coast is bad for midgies, although otherwise lovely.
Scottish schools go back mid august usually, so the end is likely to be cheaper/quieter depending on where you go.
www.crieffhydro.com is nice to stay with children,or www.hilton.co.uk/coylumbridge.
Hope you have fun

Oh, I second the Colyumbridge Hilton - it's our little treat for weekends away. The kids love it, great pool, loads to do outside. Fab.

Coylumbridge

oh yes crieff hydro is BRILLIANT for families

Good point trockodile re the schools.

West coast of Scoltand can be bad for mdiges - although when I was in Tobermoroy and Iona, it was the middle of August and although it was sunny, we didn't come across any midges. I can remember midges on occasion whenI was at uni in St Andrews - East Coast (which, for janz' benefit, has fantastic beaches for kids to play on)

But last Tuesday in Glasgow, we did - althugh since then there has been enough of a breeze to keep them away.

Thanks for all your suggestions - will get cracking

Janx we live near Aberdeen and have been on holiday twice near St Andrews and around the East Neuk of Fife there are some lovely little villages Crail, Anstruther etc and the beaches are lovely especially the one in St Andrews. We stayed at a place called Cambo House it is quite an old house but lovely inside they don't have a pool it has a huge trampoline and a swing, slide and wendy house and huge garden area to play about in and there are walks around the area if you are into that. There is also another place called Morton of Pitmilly which is maybe worth checking out it has an indoor pool so if weather wasn't great it may be good. Both places are a few miles outwith St Andrews. Hope you find something.

do you like wild and lonely or a
bit more civilized ?

In August it is prime mozzie season so coastal would be best.

Hi
My biggest concern I guess are the mozzies and midges as they seem to love me! We would like somewhere near the coast - bit of both I guess throkenholt - maybe stay in a few different places. my daughter loves trampolines georgeclooneyfan so your suggestion sounds good

if you're coming to fife there are TONNES of fab places nearby for kids

cairnie fruit farm
craigtoun park
st andrews/st andrews beach
anstruther is nice
south queensferry has the sea life centre
fife is no more than 1hr drive to edin for festival

stanley has active kids
crieff hydro is FAB crieff and comrie both lovely
blair drummond safari park near to stirling
fife deer centre

near to aberdeen is storybook glen too

cairnie fruit farm

blair drummond

storybook glen

st andrews and craigtoun

active kids stanley

crieff hydro

we took ours to tobermory and oban for a few days last year and they loved it, the ferry ride isn't long over to mull and then you can get the bus into tobermory and have a wee wander about - long enough for the wee ones

edinburgh fesitval

deepsea world

summer events in fife

visit scotland is a great website for letting you know whats on

try to go to a highland games too

hth

events in scotland

glamis castle is nice too and enroute to aberdeen

brechin castle centre is too

go to east coast rather than west to help avoid midges

I was going to suggest Fife on the east coast. Or on the west coast maybe somewhere near Oban.

I'd recommend Perthshire too. Pitlochry is very pretty, not necessarily kiddy focused but there is a camp site up the road at Blair Atholl that is nice.

Crieff Hydro is good for families actually, forgot about that.

well we always went on holiday here as kids. it is quiet but next to the coast, lots of walks and nature etc. Its not too bad for midges. It is close to the border (though so not sure where the nearest airport would be? this website might help though?

Avon Skin so soft is supposed to be very good for the midges. Even the army uses it!

East coast definitely less midgey. Fife is lovely