Scottish Festive Break

[Schnauzerwoz]

We are thinking of taking a family trip to Scotland over New Year. Group will include a 7 year old and a dog!
we want cosy lodge, a bit of exploring and maybe some snow. Not interested in a city break. We’re also thinking about taking the sleeper train.
Any recommendations?

I would recommend driving. The kind of place you want is not likely to be within easy reach of a train station, and getting to shops etc is tough without a car. If you’re wedded to the sleeper, look at where it stops - Blair Atholl? Pitlochry? Oban? Without a car you won’t be able to go much further and taxi services will be thin.

Sorry-should have said we plan on hiring a car. The drive would be v long as we’re in Kent

Snow isn’t guaranteed, snow tends to be late February although you might get some. Just a thought though, if you are remote you might get stuck in snow.

Any suggestions for villages or areas that would be nice?

MacDonald resort Aviemore would be ideal.

Aviemore, Cairngorms National Park are beautiful but beware it gets dark very early at that time of year. My cousin has a house in Tomintoul which is a gorgeous village. I’d be tempted to go to Inverness or Skye though

Aviemore or Perthshire.

Aviemore is always a good option with kids. It's a bit of tourist honey pot but for a reason - some easy walks, good facilities, easy drive to Inverness, it's on the train line and has a fairly decent bus service for a rural area.
I wouldn't stay in Inverness, it's not that pretty and is very much a service town for the highlands. Skye is stunning but a week with a 7yr old in the depths of a scottish winter......nah!
I think the sleeper train is fine if you're the sort of person who can pretty much sleep standing up. It's ok if you're leaving from home because you have somewhere to hang out in the evening until it leave. I think the difficulty comes on the way home when it doesn't depart until late and you've checked out of your holiday accommodation mid morning (although if you board at Inverness it's an 8:45pm departure which isn't too bad for waiting around). It's really expensive too, you can probably fly for less.

East Coast, Stonehaven maybe?
There probably won’t be snow (although there was around about that time this year) but you’d have the fireballs to go to on Hogmany and lots of lovely beaches round about to explore.

Firstly, do check the cost because hogmany particularly can double to quadruple usual costs...
Places ro stay for a Highland vibe over Christmas - I would suggest Pitlochry in Perthshire, or head over to Royal Deeside Braemar or Ballater.

While Aviemore surrounds are lovely, the town is a functional 1960/70's mess architecturally...but, it's got everything you need and more for a good trip.

My final suggestion is more left field: Oban and surrounds are brilliant. Day trip to Isle of Mull or Isle of Lismore? Great forests and walks, but a lot less touristy out of season and more 'find your own entertainment and take a flask as the cafe is closed'....but Argyll is brilliant.

Remember it will be dark by 4pm and many places are seasonal ao not everywhere in smaller places will be open.

The 2nd of January is a public holiday which will affect opening times and public transport.

Perth shire and the cairngorms are a good shout. Maybe take a day train over the sleeper (hell on earth) as it will be quicker and easier, especially with young DC.

Snow over new year is unlikely but not unheard of.