Scotland half term ideas

Turns out we can’t go to Germany this half term (last week in May), so give me some ideas for Scotland.  We’ve been to Aviemore, been to Braemar which were nice, where else?  Budget up to £6-700 for accommodation, but less is welcome.  We’re not used to paying for accommodation other than camp site fees. Maybe some sort of posh glamping in a forest or mountains would be nice.

We’ve got a 7 person house near Aviemore for £620 that week I think. Weather forecast looks thoroughly nasty, but hoping to do a few big hills now the kid is less kid like

Somewhere in Argyll, south of Oban. Quite a different feel to the more mountainous areas. Lots of seascapes. Not as busy as further north. No idea of accommodation though. I assume that’s £600-700 per person? 😉

Last week in May is the perfect time to go to the West Coast. Weather is usually decent at that time of year and it’s too early for the midges which ruin the experience in full summer.

Good call from Scotroutes.  If you like neolithic archeology Kilmartin is spectactular.  Getting ferries makes it an adventure ie drive up to the clyde coast, ferry onto Arran and then another over to Kintyre

What is it you are looking for?

Dumfries and Galloway. Some excellent places here. And its not packed with camper vans like up North.

Problem might be availability now?

Is this a biking trip?

Who is “we” – kids? (ages?), dogs?

Does “posh glamping” require easy access to pubs or are you happy to self cater?

How posh is posh?

How long do you want to spend in the car (say from Grenta)?

+1 on Argyll or west coast.

We had a cracking few days at Easter – remember there are some lovely islands to pop out to like Gigha, Islay, Jura, Easdale, Seil, Luing…

and

We = family.  The kids are pretty inactive, they will just want to chill, and for my eldest the more remote the better as she seems to be an aspiring hermit.

Self catering in at least some rudimentary form

Don’t care how long it takes to drive

Posh means not an actual shed, but some sort of space between adults and kids sleeping.

What is it you are looking for?

Low key adventures like low level walks to cool places (or maybe a small rocky hill), or castles, neolithic sites etc.

Argyll then IMO.  It has what you are looking for.  No idea about accomodation tho.

West coast is lovely as mentioned but accommodation at this late notice may be a challenge.

Well aware that it’s late and it’s half term.

Don’t know how many of you there are, but this sleeps 4 and is available…

https://www.cottages.com/cottages/carnethy-cc523002?adult=4&child=0&infant=0&pets=0&range=3&nights=7&accommodationType=cottages&regionName=Argyll+and+Bute&regionId=22340&destinationURL=%2Fscotland%2Fargyll-and-bute&start=25-05-2024&index=search&accommodationTypes=&features=&siteFeatures=&page=1&sort=priceasc&newflex=true

We = family.  The kids are pretty inactive, they will just want to chill, and for my eldest the more remote the better as she seems to be an aspiring hermit.

Beautifully vague!  I’m sure there’s people with better memories than me who know if that is 4/5/6 people, and if we are looking for strolls with a buggy, somewhere you can leave teenagers to entertain themselves on tablets whilst you climb a hill etc…    although at this notice you might have to take what you can get.

Self catering in at least some rudimentary form

That will help.

Don’t care how long it takes to drive

OK so I think the Argyll option is good.  Arran or Bute could be other options (and both have potential to use as a different route to/from Argyll)

Posh means not an actual shed, but some sort of space between adults and kids sleeping.

Space like this? http://www.leachive.co.uk/microlodges.htm or more like this https://kerrerabunkhouse.co.uk/bunkhouse or https://www.lunga.com/Forester

I’ve not idea about availability for any of those.

Beautifully vague!

Sorry.  There are two kids, aged 12 and 15.

That Leachive place looks lovely, option to take our own van there.

Molgrips – leachive is a small campsite in a small village, essentially it’s a couple of dozen statics, a small field and a couple of those hobbit pods.  A small but functional toilet/shower block.  The statics are all owned by regulars and it’s quiet and civilised – no stag parties, no pool room, no arcade or live entertainment.  Its basic.  Many people would find it too basic.  People who like it love it because its so basic.   No idea if they have availability – it’s the sort of place you phone not email as they only check email once a week!

the village itself is essentially on a dead end*, too small for the coach traffic so ideal for peace.   It’s connected to an even smaller hamlet on the otherwise of the peninsula where you will get amazing sunsets over Jura. There’s another small static site that side but they don’t take tourers.

from the village you can walk to the Taynish nature reserve (well worth the walk along the ridge), go to the tearoom and one shop or go to the pub and very good seafood restaurant right next to the campsite.    You can get an expensive passenger only ferry to Jura or go wildlife watching with Venture West.

there’s some very tame bike trails in the woods near the Faery Isles, or the Fire Tower Trails near Lochgilphead (may be over grown now). The gravel road to the end of the peninsula or the road route to Achnamara / Kilmory are worth a spin.  Kilmory has nice beach – you may be the only people there. Nice walks at the Crinan Canal and in the woods all around there.  Close to Kilmichael if you like ancient stuff.  Watch the boats on the canal.  There’s beavers reintroduced if you have the patience for a late night explore.   Oban about an hour away if you want civilisation (the cinema there is tiny but quaintly worth it if you end up with several days of rain).  Plenty of other touristy stuff if you want to jump in the car for 30+ minutes but for decompressing this is hard to beat.

but – you must come back and tell everyone it was crap because it’s already too busy!

*technically it’s not actually the end of the road but it’s not a through route.

oh and it’s the sort of place where you can leave a 12 and 15 year old to their own devices without stressing.

“We had a cracking few days at Easter – remember there are some lovely islands to pop out to like Gigha, Islay, Jura, Easdale, Seil, Luing…”

What about the Isle of Bute? It’s been a long time since I was there, but I remember it being very pretty. Not as busy as Arran. Others would know better though.

That road through Lochgilphead looks ok, looks like only the last bit is single-track. Thanks for the info.

Don’t go to Islay It is sh1t. I don’t go every couple of years, and if I had the money I wouldnt go more often

What about the Isle of Bute? It’s been a long time since I was there, but I remember it being very pretty. Not as busy as Arran. Others would know better though.

bute is ok – well outside Rothesay!  It’s quite small for a week unless you’ve something specific in mind.  The ferry to Collintraive opens up Cowal and (when it’s running) the Ferry at Portavadie unlocks the rest of Argyll.    Compared to some English metropolis it would be great.  Good with a bike.

That road through Lochgilphead looks ok, looks like only the last bit is single-track. Thanks for the info.

yeah it’s fine, even by single track standards the last few bit is pretty good – but you can’t take a coach which is good as it keeps it off the radar!

For less far away travel the Dumfries coast near Sandyhills is great this time of year. The bluebells run down the sand dunes to the beach. Dalbeattie forest easy cycling distance, Castle Douglas has a great castle nearby. Mainly about the beaches and forests.

North Berwick is also great. Good beach, plenty of good cafes etc. in town, train to Edinburgh for a day in the city, walk up the Law for views.

Isle of Arran is also great for hills and beaches.

The other suggestions up there ^^ are also great but more driving. Too much choice of places to go.

+1 Dumfries and Galloway, and sandyhills

Barend holiday lodges, 5 mins walk to the beach, and opposite Dalbeattie Forest

https://barendholidaylodges.uk

If you can stomach the drive then Orkney is worth the trip. We did it a couple of years ago and stayed in the Orcades Hostel in Kirkwall (which looks like it’s booked but other places exist).

West Coast pre-midge season is a good shout, if you’re doing Argyll then M6/74 up to Glasgow, M8 to Greenock then a short drive to Hunters Quay (not Gourock, that’s foot only!) for the ferry to Argyll. And that’s you.

shout, if you’re doing Argyll then M6/74 up to Glasgow, M8 to Greenock then a short drive to Hunters Quay (not Gourock, that’s foot only!) for the ferry to Argyll. And that’s you.

well that gets you to Dunoon, which is technically in Argyll BUT if you want to be Atlantic coast rather then the Clyde you need to go a by further (possibly on another ferry depending where you are headed).  I am a big fan of that western ferries route but 1. It doesn’t benefit from RET so is expensive; 2. It can often be quicker just to driver round the rest n be thankful.  I like it because it breaks the journey and you feel more on holiday.

I have to say no ferries gives us a lot less stress in terms of timing. I reckon Orkney might be too far despite what I said earlier 🙂

How the Jeff do you pronounce Lochgilphead ?

Loch Gilp Head  – as in the head of loch gilp

Ferries – going on and off arran to get to kintyre – I think there are lots of ferries so not timing issues but I have only done it with bikes so turn upand go

https://www.calmac.co.uk/destinations/arran

Just been passing through the Bute, Tarbert, Argyll and Oban areas right now on a bikepacking trip. Thoroughly recommend, per Poly’s advice above although around Loch Sween is much nicer than the village of Lochgilphead, which is quite run down now. As are a few places out here now, suffering from a lack of staff, so some surprises when expecting to find cafes open. Seems to be a universal problem.

Sunset on Sanna beach tonight was stunning; rode back to Kilchoan in the gloaming.

“Ferries – going on and off arran to get to kintyre – I think there are lots of ferries so not timing issues but I have only done it with bikes so turn upand go “

There are still problems with the Arran – Ardrossan/Troon route, last I read was it was one ferry down, and Ardrossan cannot be used in bad weather, so crossings are limited. I’ve just looked, no car spaces from Ardrossan today. There was something on Radio Scot last week, even locals cannot get across on some days, where they’d usually just turn up and get on.

I am a big fan of that western ferries route but 1. It doesn’t benefit from RET so is expensive

It’s all relative, I’d take a 20 minute crossing and quiet roads over battling my way up Loch Lomond and the Rest and Be Thankful. YMMV, I’m coming from Largs so the A83 definitely isn’t the fast option.

I have to say no ferries gives us a lot less stress in terms of timing.

They’re every 15 minutes and you can just turn up. AFAIK there are no set sailings attached to a ticket.

@alanl Arran is a shit show just now. The Arthur is running out of Troon but have no idea what the proper one is doing. Weather isn’t a concern now but breakdowns are across the CMal fleet.

Just a PSA for @molgrips, the winged bastards are waking up, got mobbed last night when I took the dog out.

Did someone mention Bute itself?  Rothesay?

I haven’t booked yet..  Seems to be mostly holiday lets that are available.

Rothesay is a rather faded (scruffy?) seaside town.  Bute itself will not have enough too keep you occupied for a week I would think

Rothesay is a rather faded (scruffy?) seaside town.

TJ is right.  It was probably amazing in the 1960s but has suffered since the advent of package holidays and low cost air travel (like many west of scotland holiday towns).

Bute itself will not have enough too keep you occupied for a week I would think

If you put the effort in and like a stroll on a beach or on a very gentle hill I think you could enjoy a long weekend there – a week is probably possible if the weather is like today!  But it is possible to get off the island to Cowal (part of Argyll) via another ferry which gives you options – either for a “2-centre” stay or just an escape for the day (foot passengers on the ferry would be cheap – but that ferry does have RET so is not stupid money even with the van).

How the Jeff do you pronounce Lochgilphead

Loch Gilp Head – as in the head of loch gilp

Hmmm. Never heard the H pronounced myself.

Loch Gilp Ed

Looking at it I favour the Atlantic side.  There was a place in Cambelltown though, but it is a loong way.  Loghgilphead probably a good base, it gives access to the Atlantic side.  We’ll probably just drive for a bit, sit on a beach/do a short walk, eat some food, go home.

As a dumfries and galloway resident I can recommend it for a get away chill type holiday, kippford, loch ken, galloway outdoor centre has lodges and yurts, galloway forest park, isle of whithorn, luce bay, glen trool, etc  Would give you biking options with inactive group peace and quiet for chilling.

There will not be biking on this trip.

Nothing around Craobh Haven / Ardfern?

Not as far a drive as Campbelltown, the Atlantic side, decent access North, South and East.

Last week in May is the perfect time to go to the West Coast.

Nah, this week in May was the perfect time.

Looking at it I favour the Atlantic side.  There was a place in Cambelltown though, but it is a loong way.  Loghgilphead probably a good base, it gives access to the Atlantic side.  We’ll probably just drive for a bit, sit on a beach/do a short walk, eat some food, go home.

Lochgilphead area in general – good plan.

Lochgilphead itself – only marginally better than Rothesay!  I think your are in S. Wales ? so just like Abergavenny might be a nice place for a holiday, but Pontypool – not so much!

By the way Scotabroad’s suggestions were where I was going to point you if you wanted 3 hrs less in the car!