We’re thinking of Scotland for our family holiday this summer so I’m looking for some advice on where to go as I’ve not been since I was a kid. I fancy the Highlands but it’s a heck of a long way from Plymouth so any recommendations for somewhere further south would be appreciated.

We’ll be either camping or renting a cottage so recommendations for that too would be good. We’re basically looking for somewhere with lots of scenery where we can go biking, walking, see wildlife etc.

Thanks in advance..

Cairngorms would be great. Plenty to do around Aviemore, and great scenery. Also generally a bit drier that the West coast.

If you don't want to drive that far, Dumfries in Galloway is closer, and good for scenery. Alternatively I would suggest somewhere around the Peebles end of the borders. Good biking (lots of trail centres for all abilities), good scenery, and you could have a couple of day trips to Edinburgh.

For a family holiday Aviemore is good – but depends on age of everyone and what they like to do – it's got access to some truly amazing scenery and places but you need to be outdoorsy rather than just sitting in a car and going driving (good stuff to see) – Couple of good hotel resorts with stuff to do.

Also very good for MTBing!

East end of the country is probably better in the summer for less midges if you are camping – they will be there but not as much as the West side of the country.

The Southern end of Scotland has some great cottages that you can hire and spend a holiday at…depends what you are after – Highlands has the breathtaking scenery, but all of Scotland does look nice (although the Central Belt maybe isn't the best looking of the 3 'sections')…what kind of accommodation and things to do are you looking for?

does it have to in the UK? from plymouth you could probably get to the alps quicker….

i drove to fort bill once from plymouth and it is a beast of a drive.

I've holidayed in Aviemore from since I was a wee kid, and love taking my wee ones there now to keep the circle going. It is a wonderful place for families, quite a bit to do in Aviemore village that kids will like (e.g. nice pool, go-karts), great outdoor stuff for them also.

Don't know the southwest well at all, but Peebles area (my wife is fae Roslin, you should go and see the chapel, well cool) certainly very nice and you have the double wonderfulness of Edinburgh and all it has to offer families close by, plus some fab scenery (although a bit tame and less intersting than highlands or my reco below)and awesome trail centres.

I would put a strong pitch in for Crief in Perthshire. You can get extrememly good value self catering accomodation at Crief Hydro that gives you access to all the nice hotel stuff, and it is a massively pleasant hotel that really understands families. Tons of activites in some of the most beautiful scenery in the UK. It is a quite a bit faster to get to than the highlands also. Oh yeah, and also within easy striking distance of Edinburgh should you wish.

When we move back to the UK, we're going to Crief. It's fab.

Kev

http://www.crieffhydro.com/

We're on a bit of a budget and were thinking of Scotland as a bit of a change from the Lakes. Although we'd ideally like to get up there in one go we can stop off at the inlaws in Bolton if need be.

If we camp we'd be looking for a quiet'ish campsite, or otherwise a nice (but reasonably priced) cottage or lodge.

Was thinking of Dumfries or around the Peebles area, just have no idea what the areas are like. It's been left to me to organise but I know there'll be trouble if we get up there and it doesn't meet approval 😐

Harris, preferably the western side, is brilliant. Amazing beaches, nice little hills to take the kids up and down, and not too many midges. Very remote but absolutely unforgettable.

The lobster and chips at the Anchorage is not to be missed.

My personal preference is for the Gairloch area. It's a fair way up but with good roads pretty much all the way. Lots to do both in Gairloch and within a reaonable drive e.g. Torridon and Applecross to the South, Ullapool to the North.

If you're camping then Sands Holiday Centre is excellent.

Blimey, plenty to look into there. Thanks again

http://www.visitdumfriesandgalloway.co.uk/
http://www.cottageguide.co.uk/dumfries-galloway/
http://www.visitsouthwestscotland.com/
http://www.7stanes.com/
http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/ACHS-5RJEKY
http://kippfordholidaypark.co.uk/output/home.asp
http://www.auchenlarie.co.uk/
http://www.campsitescaravansites.co.uk/campsite-caravan-site6187.asp

Was thinking of Dumfries or around the Peebles area, just have no idea what the areas are like. It's been left to me to organise but I know there'll be trouble if we get up there and it doesn't meet approval

Spoke to a family last year at Ae who normally holidayed down your way but had decided to pay there first visit to Scotland.
They loved it.
As much as I agree with the guys above the Highlands are outstaningly beutifull but D&G has as much to offer. You also save ££££ and time travelling all that way esp if you have a young family.

Sample of things to do;
http://www.dgcommunity.net/dgcommunity/miniweb.aspx?id=310
http://www.mabiefarmpark.co.uk/
http://www.dalsconefarm.co.uk/
http://www.wwt.org.uk/caerlaverock
http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/dumfries/caerlaverock/index.html
http://www.drumlanrig.com/
http://www.creamogalloway.co.uk/

Fly to Inverness?
Save yourselves a very long drive and then the whole of the the Highlands are your oyster?

The midges can make your life hell if camping, more so on the west coast. While the West coast is beautiful IMO it's not what kids these days want. Aviemore would be my recommendation, lots to do with kids, pony-trecking, landmark centre, watersports, walking, biking, wildlife centre, wildlife safaris, golf, fishing, abseiling, more scenery than you can shake a stick at, in all lots of activities, very much a doing holiday where you can really bond.
If the wife must do some shopping & visit M&S, Inverness is not far.
It is a long way for you, but in the grand scale of things it is only 2hrs or so farther than the borders & there is no comparison.

Would second the Sands suggestion – Wester Ross is pretty special.

Arisaig is another personal favourirte of mine – some brilliant beach camping spots.

A little more effort for you but Tiree, Colonsay, Iona and Harris are all absolutely stunning options. Something about the boat journey and the stunning Hebridean beaches that really make you feel like you've been on holiday

I'd +1 crieff. When I was a kid, our family would go there every easter (self catering in a chalet at the hydro). Lots for kids to do, safe for them to explore the local hill etc themselves, close to some great walks/riding etc.

>While the West coast is beautiful IMO it's not what kids these days want. Aviemore would be my recommendation, lots to do with kids, pony-trecking, landmark centre, watersports, walking, biking, wildlife centre, wildlife safaris, golf, fishing, abseiling, more scenery than you can shake a stick at, in all lots of activities, very much a doing holiday where you can really bond.<

I'd have to disagree with that statement – Sands, for example, has all of these at hand or very nearby.

Loch Morlich has a beach of sorts of course – but not quite in the same league 😉

My feeling is that beautiful as the islands and the far north are that it might be too far – you run the risk of spending too much of your holiday travelling. Howabout a night or two in dumfries on your way north, then on to avimore for the bulk of your time with a night in the borders on your way south? Or just a tour for the whole time?

depends what you are looking for but Avimore might be a good compromise with both the scenery and the tourist attractions.

The beaches in the north west are some of the most beautiful in the world but I'd avoid family camping for fear of the midges

My feeling is that beautiful as the islands and the far north are that it might be too far

Gairloch is only about 1.5 hours drive further North than Aviemore, so impact on the total trip should be minimal.

Aviemore is ok (and has great stuff around it) but it's a bit too busy in the summer for me.

I've never had any particular issue when camping on the west coast because there is usually enough of a breeze to keep the midges at bay. I reckon the campsites in the Aviemore area are probably more of a midgie fest than Sands much of the time.

We’re basically looking for somewhere with lots of scenery where we can go biking, walking, see wildlife etc.

D&G + the Borders over to Berwick.
http://www.gallowaywildlife.co.uk/

look into sleeper train – there are often good deals if you book in advance.

good adventure in itself id've thought.

Do all these folks recommending flying or sleeper trains actually have any kids?

With the amount of sh1te that you have to take when travelling with kids a car is usually the best option – and the bigger the better.

Thanks for all the advice, there's enough there to keep me busy for a while.

If camping, buy the Cool Camping Scotland book. Oh, and the midge season is late May till mid September, or thereabouts.

If you are going to Mabie (near Dumfries) try the Marthrone bunkhouse and campsite. They have a yurt for hire, an iron age round house replica, and bunkhouse rooms. There is communal eating if you want it. The solid fuel hot tub and sauna are fun. Ideally situated for biking, it's actually in the forest. The campsite is small. The camp site toliets facilities are very eco friendly hay bales and latrines.
A great place.
http://www.marthrownofmabie.com/

West coast, islands are – fab – but a long way, I've done it in a week and to be honest I was pissed off driving … and moving….

Try Glentrool (SW)it has camping, hire caravans etc and I think lodges and is nearish some bike trails, also Loch Ken might provide some variety as well as the sandy beaches on the S

You're on a budget and going to drive, how far?

What about Wales, Pembrokeshire by the beach?

Or Brittany?

West coast, islands are – fab – but a long way, I've done it in a week and to be honest I was pissed off driving … and moving….

I live in Cambridge. We went to Harris and Lewis for about 5 years on the trot. Takes 2 days but well worth it. Sorry: gratuitous picture:

The children started getting tired of going so far North, so we tried Ireland (you need to like caravans a lot) and Wales (brilliant but wet). Back to Harris in Easter.

Having driven to the Alps and back from Scotland on several ocassions (with young children) I find the distance comments quite amusing…

Firstly: I presume the OP is going for 2 weeks as it's his main holiday. Secondly: millions of folk think nothing of flying half way around the world for 2 weeks in the sun and to do so they have to drive to the airport hours before the flight, leave the car, check in, generally be herded like sheep, get delayed, sit in a plane for hours, get a coach transfer blah de blah…

I personally find that can be more gruelling than choosing my own time of travel and driving (within reason obviously)

Hundreds of thousands of folk from deepest England make the annual pilgrimmage to the Highlands and Islands – and many of them would never go anywhere else. The best cottages are often booked up by them 2 years ahead across the English school hol's!

Can't see how this is any big deal to be frank and as per experience above you'll generally not be troubled by Midges near the sea.

If you're going to drive as far as Scotland, you might as well keep going to the highlands.

"lots of scenery where we can go biking, walking, see wildlife etc" It has to be Ballater / Braemar, Royal Deeside. 8)

bgd – I used to bring the family up for holidays in Scotland before moving here and I know what it's like planning a balance of everything.

Given everything that's already been said in this thread so far I am absolutely astonished that I am the first to suggest The Isle of Aran.

It is no further to drive to than the very southern most part of the mainland Highlands and once there nowhere will be more than a short drive for a day out. It sounds a bit of cliche but it's often cited as Scotland in miniature – that's an indication of the incredible variety of the landscape.

The the north of the island is very dramatic – rocky, pinnacled mountains with narrow ridges and beautiful glens and all around is a fantastic coastline of rocky/sandy bays, lovely west coast villages with palm trees etc.

You also start your holiday with a ferry trip (I still get excited by this). When I was last there we saw porpoises on the crossing and the previous week people had been flocking to the south to photograph a pod of dolphins that had been putting on a show just off the coast there.
It's a popular holiday destination so there are a lot of 'attractions' beyond the natural but where we camped at Lochranza at the north of the island it was very quiet – (plenty of deer to be seen from the campsite too).
There is the ferry cost to add in (£58 for 5 day trip) but if you went to the Highlands further north and attempted to see as much as in on Aran you would have to put in a lot more petrol and a lot of driving time.

Right – this is making me want to plan a trip back there soon.

If you can hack the long drive, then a trip up to the far NW will never disappoint. It's one of the most beautiful, inspiring places in the whole world. The kid-friendly stuff is a bit more spaced out, but the drives are almost all completely stunning.

Failing that, I'd go for Dumfries and Galloway.

Some cracking ideas there, I wish we could do it all! The missus has shown an interest in Marthrown so that's looking like a strong contender.

Arrans good – just a shame Brodick is stuck in such a bloody timewarp

Used to live on Arran – mini Scotland – lots of white settlers my family tell me……

Seeing as there are lots of Scoland likers here – http://www.savethepuffer.co.uk/holidays.htm

Did this (with bike) – truly awesome – scenery for a different angle

Interesting link – they are lovely wee boats…

>A party not exceeding 12 people may charter a cruise at 10% discount on the total price.<

That's certainly another take on a Scottish mtb 'road trip.'

bgd – Member

Some cracking ideas there, I wish we could do it all! The missus has shown an interest in Marthrown so that's looking like a strong contender.
Therefore you are within walking distance of;
http://www.mabiefarmpark.co.uk/
Mabie forest has lots of child friendly walks with ponds and a good play area. 7Stanes trail centre with the Shed cafe. Mabie House Hotel if you fancy a night out. Only a few miles along the coast is Sandyhills for some sandy beach fun. Round the corner from that is Dalbeattie, again plenty of family walking & biking. Must visits nearby are Kippford and Rockcliffe. Good family walk between the 2 and a walk up to Castle Point along the shoreline from Rockcliffe(can be biked)
If wife must have a some shopping therapy getting the train from Dumfries to Carlisle is a 1/2 trip, cheaper and easier than taking the car
If you want some real life photos let me know.
Marthrown has been quite busy over the winter btw

An alternative or 2; http://www.aefarmcottages.co.uk/
http://www.dalswintonestate.co.uk/
http://www.hoddomcastle.co.uk/
http://www.powfootholidaycottages.co.uk/
http://www.gorsebank.com/gorsebank_equestrian/Gorsebank_Wigwams.html
http://www.barnsoulfarm.co.uk/bothies.html

Thanks Trekster, that's great. Some pics would be cool too if you don't mind. My email's in my profile.