Which is the best part of Scotland to go for a holiday?

[auntypurple]

Am thinking of booking a holiday for my dp's birthday. I have 3 dc's aged 10,6 and 2. I think dp has family in Scotland and pretty sure he has mentioned the Scottish highlands, but can't remember where. I know he wants to go up there, but I can't ask him because it will be a suprise. Anyway can someone reccomend me an area so I can start looking for somewhere to stay, and also give me some idea of what we might be able to do. TIA

Around Kyle of Localsh - Glen Shiel, Plockton, Skye - is beautiful.

Ardnamurchan Peninsula (sp?) also stunning.

Arran is a firm favourite in our house.

To do: climb Goat Fell, lots of walks, beaches, um ..... oh various animal based activities, golf, visitor centres.

Tis just lovely.

Oh, and there's a Buddhist monastery a short boat ride away on Holy Isle.

Glencoe - my favourite place in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD

Are you booking a cottage, caravan, hotel?

Will be either a cottage or caravan, I am not a fan of hotels. Thanks for the suggestions so far will go look up those places.
Am trying to think of a way to ask dp about his family without him guessing what I am upto.

www.kinlochlevencaravans.co.uk

I would 2nd Plockton - Applecross is lovely too , but a bit out of the way

Ok just spoke to dp, his family live in Arbroath. Can someone reccomend anywhere that is near there? I have tried googling but am still not sure. Thanks

Have just found Haven at Seaton sands, is that anywhere near?

We camp at Rosemarkie beach every summer. It's near (ish) to Inverness and if you're lucky you can see dolphins from your tent. It's heaved!

We had such a lovely fortnight in Skye this summer...

Seaton Sands is south of Edinburgh...so not near Arbroath at all

I went to Plockton this summer. It is lovely.
My DD who was 6 then loved the Seal trip both there and in Kyle of Lochalsh.
We stayed here

So many beautiful parts to Scotland, hard to choose, I think Fort Willian and Ben Nevis area is amazing is you want to drive around and go up on some cable cars and admire the views

Arbroath is on the East Coast, not very near the highlands!

How long are you going for? Arbroath, Montrose, Carnoustie etc would be fine for a couple of nights, but not for a long stay IMO.

If you go inland a bit, there are some lovely Glens in Angus if you prefer the countryside.

visit angus website

I'd go for somewhere on the coast near St Andrews.

Or if you want the H&I, I would go to embo sands glorious beaches that run for miles and miles.

Rosemarkie beach - where's that then?

I second St. Andrews for the beaches - West Sands was used in the filming of the (?)opening sequence for Chariots of Fire, where they are all running on the beach. Wonderful sand too.

Rosemarkie is on the Black Isle, north of Inverness.

Rosemarkie

St Andrews is lovely, but associate so much in my miond with drunken student antics that I can't think of it as a place for a holiday!

If he's mentioned Scottish HIGHLANDS then he won't want St Andrews - beautiful though it is! You can stay in lodges at the Great Glen Water Park if you want family activities. Or maybe Fort Augustus?

oooh, seeker, were you a student there? A really good friend of mine was, that's why we went there for a visit - there was some excellent baker's there that did fabulous fudge doughnuts - does that ring a bell with you?

There is an ALL night bakery in St Andrew's so you can get your pie or bridie straight from the pub and gobble it up on your way home

Things you can do if you stay at the Great Glen Water Park: www.monsteractivities.com/