| Scotland Holidays 09:17 - Aug 18 with 5447 views | Mullet |
I know a few Scottish based TWTDers might be able to help here. I'm thinking of taking my boys to Scotland next summer as we've never been up there together.
Looking for suggestions of rough areas to rent a cottage/airbnb for a week. Somewhere I can let them run around, explore a bit, see some wildlife etc. Both are primary aged.
When I look on different sites it's hard to know where to base ourselves. Any tips welcome from the hivemind. |  |
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| Scotland Holidays on 09:24 - Aug 18 with 4710 views | Guthrum |
I have friends who regularly go to Ardnamurchan (tho not yet made it myself). Remote, scenery, decent cottage-type places to stay, good pubs for food, from what they've said.
Applecross is nice, but works better as a base for touring (or for eating in the excellent pub). |  |
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| Scotland Holidays on 09:28 - Aug 18 with 4696 views | TractorBrew |
I would highly recommend getting on to the western isles, maybe even island hopping. Loads of variety, can be fairly quiet and you may even get some decent weather.
Personally really like Tiree, bit of a trip but great little place. Islay is obviously good if you like a wee dram. Skye is amazing, but absolutely mobbed. |  | | |
| Scotland Holidays on 09:42 - Aug 18 with 4645 views | DJR |
When it comes to weather, May and June tend to be the best for sunshine, so maybe if you're only planning to go for a week, the Whitsun holiday would be the best time. |  | | |
| Scotland Holidays on 09:58 - Aug 18 with 4599 views | GlasgowBlue |
Depends on how far you want to go up North Mullers. Inverness can be a great base as you are in a small city (probably smaller than Ipswich) but only a short drive from some really secluded beaches and lochs where the kids can run around without the worry of roads. Plus you have the Highland wildlife park. Can dip ito parts of the NC500 which is amazing scenery.
Nairn is lovely. Perthshire is also great with places like Blair Atholl.
If you really fancy 5 days of moving around then the whole of the NC500 will give you everything you need. |  |
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| Scotland Holidays on 10:00 - Aug 18 with 4598 views | ArnoldMoorhen |
I am really happy to give a lot of suggestions, buy would need the answers to two questions to avoid wasting a lot of time!
1) which mode of transport are you thinking of using? Do you have a car? Where are you starting off from?
2) when are you thinking of coming? Do you know that Scottish School Term Dates are different to England's, basically Summer holiday is all of July and 2 weeks or so of August. So if you planned for last two weeks of August you will find children's tourist attractions less busy and possibly more accommodation available in some areas at lower prices. | | | |
| Scotland Holidays on 10:13 - Aug 18 with 4564 views | positivity |
agree with the above, would definitely recommend skye and mull.
if they're a bit too far, arran or the trossachs are a lot easier to get too, have great scenery and have more rainy day options for the kids too | |
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| Scotland Holidays on 10:21 - Aug 18 with 4556 views | Guthrum |
| Scotland Holidays on 10:13 - Aug 18 by positivity |
agree with the above, would definitely recommend skye and mull.
if they're a bit too far, arran or the trossachs are a lot easier to get too, have great scenery and have more rainy day options for the kids too |
Only spent part of a day there, but Bute was very pretty. Also well connected by ferry to south of Glasgow (Ayrshire) and the short crossing at the northern end takes you straight into the mountains of Cowal/Argyll. We basically used it as a "short-cut". | |
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| Scotland Holidays on 10:43 - Aug 18 with 4525 views | Reus30 |
It really depends how far you want to travel. Based down in Ayrshire but traveled to Inverness not long ago, it is an absolute mission.
You can't go wrong with west or east really but definitely head beyond the central belt. West is certainly more rural I find but I have enjoyed travelling around and above Loch Lomond. They have loads of water sports/adventure sites etc but kiddies might be too young.
As it's a week, you could look at Cairngorms way, you can get Loch Ness, Balmoral, even potentially Aberdeen to cover day's out with plenty of little villages and trails to explore. |  | | |
| Scotland Holidays on 11:28 - Aug 18 with 4445 views | ScotBlue |
Depends what you are looking for and how long you want to travel. Living in the Scottish Borders it is an area that is usually massively overlooked. Also as right on the border close to the Northumberland national Park. Lots of outdoor pursuits including mountain biking [Check out the 7 stanes] This year we stayed in a cottage in Tain just north of Inverness. Drove around to see lots of scenery including the NC500 but this can get busy in the summer. As someone has mentioned our kids are now back at school so you will probably find accommodation cheaper in late August. We always did when living in England.
Dundee was another area we have stayed in with sights to see in the city but quickly into the country. | | | |
| Scotland Holidays on 11:39 - Aug 18 with 4418 views | ronnyd |
Don't forget to pack some midge repellent. | | | |
| Scotland Holidays on 12:18 - Aug 18 with 4368 views | GlasgowBlue |
| Scotland Holidays on 10:21 - Aug 18 by Guthrum |
Only spent part of a day there, but Bute was very pretty. Also well connected by ferry to south of Glasgow (Ayrshire) and the short crossing at the northern end takes you straight into the mountains of Cowal/Argyll. We basically used it as a "short-cut". |
Bute is lovely. Was there in May.
Unfortunately, the Scottish governmnet have fcuked up with the ferries and it is hit or miss whether you can get to some of the Islands. A lot of Air B & B owners getting last minute cancellations because of it. [Post edited 18 Aug 2023 12:20]
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| Scotland Holidays on 12:20 - Aug 18 with 4358 views | iamatractorboy |
Rough areas? Why not try a nice area instead? 😏
To be honest, most of Scotland is beautiful, but you have to bear in mind that barring something like the A9, once you get not far north of Glasgow and Edinburgh every mile seems more like 2. It takes a long time to get places, especially along the west so somewhere like Skye with young kids may be a bit out of range. Depends how good they are in a car! Dumfries and Galloway is nice, and is much closer, just an idea. | | | |
| Scotland Holidays on 12:20 - Aug 18 with 4357 views | wkj |
Isle of Islay is an amazing experience and home of the Lagavulin Brewery for the evening time. One of my usual haunts. |  |
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| Scotland Holidays on 12:31 - Aug 18 with 4337 views | vilanovablue |
We spent 10 days in the West Highlands in June absolutely spectacular scenery and loads to see and do if the kids like water based activities. We stayed in a couple of different chalets on the banks of Loch Lomond both with a pub in easy walking distance. Staggeringly beautiful part of the world and plenty of both space and nature. We even saw golden eagles which was quite something. |  | | |
| Scotland Holidays on 12:35 - Aug 18 with 4316 views | TractorWood |
Aran is cool. Bit of everything.
I really like the area around Dumfries if you are looking for a shorter and slightly closer break.
If you are going full Scotland, to me the Cairngorms is pretty amazing but I'm biased towards high stuff and hill running.
Watch out for midges this time of year and of course be very careful and prepared on high ground. Last year I waited 3 days for a decent weather window in mid-June to do a big loop of running around Ben Macdui. Was worth it though. You might even see a wild reindeer 😉 [Post edited 18 Aug 2023 12:35]
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| Scotland Holidays on 12:40 - Aug 18 with 4292 views | Herbivore |
Can't beat the Trossachs for me. Stayed at an amazing Airbnb in Lochgoilhead with incredible views. Less than half an hour from the coast and Loch Lomond and with lots of lovely walks in the immediate area too. |  |
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| Scotland Holidays on 12:41 - Aug 18 with 4290 views | TractorBrew |
| Scotland Holidays on 12:20 - Aug 18 by wkj |
Isle of Islay is an amazing experience and home of the Lagavulin Brewery for the evening time. One of my usual haunts. |
Can be that usual if you call it a brewery, pretty sure that's instant deportation off Islay to call it that | | | |
| Scotland Holidays on 12:45 - Aug 18 with 4278 views | Mullet |
| Scotland Holidays on 10:00 - Aug 18 by ArnoldMoorhen |
I am really happy to give a lot of suggestions, buy would need the answers to two questions to avoid wasting a lot of time!
1) which mode of transport are you thinking of using? Do you have a car? Where are you starting off from?
2) when are you thinking of coming? Do you know that Scottish School Term Dates are different to England's, basically Summer holiday is all of July and 2 weeks or so of August. So if you planned for last two weeks of August you will find children's tourist attractions less busy and possibly more accommodation available in some areas at lower prices. |
Thanks all as ever, I'll not reply individually and clog up the thread!
As far as these go
1) I'll drive us all up from Manchester
2) I am aware about term dates. I wanted to go late July as I'll be straight off school and in need of a rest and it means I don't miss Town games. Holidays and weddings during the season seems madness to me! | |
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| Scotland Holidays on 14:31 - Aug 18 with 4179 views | farkenhell |
We recently (end July/beginning August) hired a motorhome for 12 days and travelled up to John O'Groats and back again, taking our time and staying at various camp sites on the way.
Some great advice already in this thread, but a few things we found that you might want to bear in mind:
1) The point about 1 mile feeling like 2 is a very good one. The driving experience is much better than in England (amazing how there is much less traffic on the roads after Carlisle), but journeys do take much longer. You're restricted to single carriageway roads with the occasional dual, and after Inverness, the coastal road North is just a single, winding, up and down road. You won't want to rush though, the scenery is beautiful.
2) We have a couple of children (15 and 11) and the experience for them was so much better with the space of a motorhome. I would not have liked to do the journey in a car. You can't really go that much quicker, particularly North of Inverness, and you'd probably need more stops in a car, for the sake of your own sanity (in fact we may well have had a mutiny on our hands before we reached Birmingham!) For some context, it took us 5 hours from Inverness to John O'Groats, including a couple of stops.
3) We stuck to the East side, in order to avoid the Scottish midges. This was mainly after my sister's experience the year before, when she had to empty and fumigate her campervan somewhere close to Skye. If you're looking at end July, I understand that this is the worst time for midges, so you might want to bear that in mind. My wife downloaded an app called "midge-watch" (I think), which tells you on a daily basis which areas are affected.
4) That said, we stayed close to Inverness on the way up and on the way back, so that we could visit Loch Ness. We did a river cruise, which was rather pleasant. We also went on a couple of forest walks between Inverness and Culloden, plus seal watching on the Moray Firth. Nairn is lovely, as someone has mentioned, plus the beach at Lossiemouth. When we left, we took the road that runs along the length of the loch, which was enjoyable.
5) If you are looking at renting a place, then Inverness would be a good base. But wherever you base yourself, be prepared for a lot of driving there and back if you want to visit different sites and attractions.
6) Despite all of the fantastic scenery in the far North, the most spectacular place that we drove through was Glencoe (think Skyfall), unfortunately on our penultimate day so we didn't have much time to stop and explore.
7) On the football side of things (of course), my son and I had a great time "ground spotting". We probably saw 6 or 7, including Inverness, which is based in a beautiful location at the mouth of the Moray Firth.
Hope this helps. I'm sure you'll have a great time. | | | |
| Scotland Holidays on 15:35 - Aug 18 with 4106 views | wkj |
| Scotland Holidays on 12:41 - Aug 18 by TractorBrew |
Can be that usual if you call it a brewery, pretty sure that's instant deportation off Islay to call it that |
I blame this post for my cerebral whoopsie | |
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| Scotland Holidays on 21:52 - Aug 18 with 3898 views | ArnoldMoorhen |
| Scotland Holidays on 12:45 - Aug 18 by Mullet |
Thanks all as ever, I'll not reply individually and clog up the thread!
As far as these go
1) I'll drive us all up from Manchester
2) I am aware about term dates. I wanted to go late July as I'll be straight off school and in need of a rest and it means I don't miss Town games. Holidays and weddings during the season seems madness to me! |
Ok, I have done lots of road trip holidays with two sons. The key observation I would have is to try and make this a proper road trip, rather than blast all the way up in one go. With Primary age kids I would say two journey sections of one and a half hours is optimal.
Day 1
From Manchester I would leave at a leisurely time and stop for lunch at Tebay services. The Cumberland Sausage Roll is incredible. One between two small children would be ample, and maybe leave some room to share a Millionaire's Shortbread or similar. Tebay services recently appeared on its own Channel 4 TV series, where they follow the "characters" who work there, and also show where the locally sourced products come from. Maybe watch an episode with your kids, and see if they can spot any of the TV stars?
Incidentally, the section of the M6 just before this stop is what I consider to be the most beautiful piece of Motorway in England. But little kids never seem impressed with views!
From here I would go to a lovely little Borders Town called Moffat. Lots of parks and green spaces to run around in. I would stay here for the first night. *If you wanted to and felt your kids were up to it, you could take a detour via the Lakes. Hills and fells to run up. Boats to go on. Even a pencil museum to visit. Maybe show them some YouTube clips of Donald Campbell and visit Windermere?* Still time to get to Moffat by daylight, because it gets darker, later, in Scotland, than England, in the summer.
Day 2
When you are ready to head off from Moffat, I would suggest a day in Glasgow. BUT ONLY IF YOUR CAR IS LEZ ZONE COMPLIANT!!! My sons loved visiting football stadiums on holidays. You have loads to choose from in Greater Glasgow, and in particular (and in alphabetical order) Celtic Park, Hampden Park, and Ibrox. For running around, Kelvingrove Park in the West End of the city is massive, and there is an international quality Museum and Art Gallery nearby (free entry) which this website rates as a good day out for children:
https://www.glasgowwithkids.co.uk/kelvingrove-art-gallery-and-museum-glasgow/
(plus see their other suggestions)
My wife works in the extended Primary sector. She took a big group to Glasgow Science Centre, which she says was fantastic and hands on.
Not the cheapest day out, but she says it is well worth it:
https://www.glasgowsciencecentre.org/visit/ticket-prices
Stay in Glasgow City Centre
Day 3
Drive on to Loch Lomond (about an hour). Boat trips possible, particularly if you didn't take the Lake District option. Drive round to Ben Lomond car park. Maybe climb some, or all, of Ben Lomond. But, considering it will be high summer, consider this warning:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/shwwc/posts/4249474871778109/
So time at Loch Lomond can be as active as you want it, and push the children as far as you think is sensible.
Allowing 6 or more hours for all of that, and assuming a picnic by the loch somewhere, or packed lunch on Ben Lomond.
Drive on to Loch Tay, and stay overnight at Kenmore.
*I haven't got time to carry on in such detail now, but can come back and edit*
Day 4
Kenmore > Pitlochry > visit Highland Safari
https://www.highlandsafaris.net/ (Very good cafe with amazing cakes and dessert options!)
Day 5
Pitlochry as base. Could do a day trip to Aviemore, for proper Cairngorms. Or Tay Forest Park and on to Loch Tummel. Beautiful scenery, either way!
Day 6
Pitlochry > Kelpies (for photos) near Falkirk > Edinburgh
You could go over the Quensferry Crossing (new Forth road Bridge) and stop at South Queensferry to take photos there, before going on to the Kelpies, but that then means doubling back on a 30 minute section. Or just miss The Kelpies out if you think they won't be of interest to your children.
There is loads to do in Edinburgh. Arthur's Seat to climb. Harry Potter related stuff. One of the Marvel Avengers films had an extended fight scene on the Royal Mile, if your kids are into those films. You *could* choose to time this to coincide with the Festivals, but accommodation shoots up in price. There are so many things for children during the Festivals, including a Science Festival as well as Fringe theatre, comedy, circus, clowns etc Loads of street performers.
Day 7
Edinburgh > either North Berwick and/or St Abbs > Bamburgh > Durham
Two Lothian fishing villages. North Berwick is bigger, and has a dramatic beach with both sand and huge rocky outcrops. St Abbs is phenomenally picturesque and also featured in a Marvel film as New Asgard.
Bamburgh- huge wind-swept beach overlooked by a dramatic castle. Durham- historic city, cobbled streets, circular river walks.
Day 8
Durham > Yorkshire Sculpture Park > Manchester
You probably know this end of the trip better than me! But if you haven't been to Yorkshire Sculpture Park it has huge expanses for kids to run around in.
That doesn't do the Islands (save that for a longer holiday) but gives lots of different regions, both of the biggest cities, lochs, a munro, an animal safari and no leg of the journey is more than about an hour and a half. | | | |
| Scotland Holidays on 23:23 - Aug 18 with 3829 views | BanksterDebtSlave |
You're looking for rough areas? The Gorbals perhaps. |  |
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| Scotland Holidays on 08:30 - Aug 19 with 3697 views | Mullet |
| Scotland Holidays on 21:52 - Aug 18 by ArnoldMoorhen |
Ok, I have done lots of road trip holidays with two sons. The key observation I would have is to try and make this a proper road trip, rather than blast all the way up in one go. With Primary age kids I would say two journey sections of one and a half hours is optimal.
Day 1
From Manchester I would leave at a leisurely time and stop for lunch at Tebay services. The Cumberland Sausage Roll is incredible. One between two small children would be ample, and maybe leave some room to share a Millionaire's Shortbread or similar. Tebay services recently appeared on its own Channel 4 TV series, where they follow the "characters" who work there, and also show where the locally sourced products come from. Maybe watch an episode with your kids, and see if they can spot any of the TV stars?
Incidentally, the section of the M6 just before this stop is what I consider to be the most beautiful piece of Motorway in England. But little kids never seem impressed with views!
From here I would go to a lovely little Borders Town called Moffat. Lots of parks and green spaces to run around in. I would stay here for the first night. *If you wanted to and felt your kids were up to it, you could take a detour via the Lakes. Hills and fells to run up. Boats to go on. Even a pencil museum to visit. Maybe show them some YouTube clips of Donald Campbell and visit Windermere?* Still time to get to Moffat by daylight, because it gets darker, later, in Scotland, than England, in the summer.
Day 2
When you are ready to head off from Moffat, I would suggest a day in Glasgow. BUT ONLY IF YOUR CAR IS LEZ ZONE COMPLIANT!!! My sons loved visiting football stadiums on holidays. You have loads to choose from in Greater Glasgow, and in particular (and in alphabetical order) Celtic Park, Hampden Park, and Ibrox. For running around, Kelvingrove Park in the West End of the city is massive, and there is an international quality Museum and Art Gallery nearby (free entry) which this website rates as a good day out for children:
https://www.glasgowwithkids.co.uk/kelvingrove-art-gallery-and-museum-glasgow/
(plus see their other suggestions)
My wife works in the extended Primary sector. She took a big group to Glasgow Science Centre, which she says was fantastic and hands on.
Not the cheapest day out, but she says it is well worth it:
https://www.glasgowsciencecentre.org/visit/ticket-prices
Stay in Glasgow City Centre
Day 3
Drive on to Loch Lomond (about an hour). Boat trips possible, particularly if you didn't take the Lake District option. Drive round to Ben Lomond car park. Maybe climb some, or all, of Ben Lomond. But, considering it will be high summer, consider this warning:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/shwwc/posts/4249474871778109/
So time at Loch Lomond can be as active as you want it, and push the children as far as you think is sensible.
Allowing 6 or more hours for all of that, and assuming a picnic by the loch somewhere, or packed lunch on Ben Lomond.
Drive on to Loch Tay, and stay overnight at Kenmore.
*I haven't got time to carry on in such detail now, but can come back and edit*
Day 4
Kenmore > Pitlochry > visit Highland Safari
https://www.highlandsafaris.net/ (Very good cafe with amazing cakes and dessert options!)
Day 5
Pitlochry as base. Could do a day trip to Aviemore, for proper Cairngorms. Or Tay Forest Park and on to Loch Tummel. Beautiful scenery, either way!
Day 6
Pitlochry > Kelpies (for photos) near Falkirk > Edinburgh
You could go over the Quensferry Crossing (new Forth road Bridge) and stop at South Queensferry to take photos there, before going on to the Kelpies, but that then means doubling back on a 30 minute section. Or just miss The Kelpies out if you think they won't be of interest to your children.
There is loads to do in Edinburgh. Arthur's Seat to climb. Harry Potter related stuff. One of the Marvel Avengers films had an extended fight scene on the Royal Mile, if your kids are into those films. You *could* choose to time this to coincide with the Festivals, but accommodation shoots up in price. There are so many things for children during the Festivals, including a Science Festival as well as Fringe theatre, comedy, circus, clowns etc Loads of street performers.
Day 7
Edinburgh > either North Berwick and/or St Abbs > Bamburgh > Durham
Two Lothian fishing villages. North Berwick is bigger, and has a dramatic beach with both sand and huge rocky outcrops. St Abbs is phenomenally picturesque and also featured in a Marvel film as New Asgard.
Bamburgh- huge wind-swept beach overlooked by a dramatic castle. Durham- historic city, cobbled streets, circular river walks.
Day 8
Durham > Yorkshire Sculpture Park > Manchester
You probably know this end of the trip better than me! But if you haven't been to Yorkshire Sculpture Park it has huge expanses for kids to run around in.
That doesn't do the Islands (save that for a longer holiday) but gives lots of different regions, both of the biggest cities, lochs, a munro, an animal safari and no leg of the journey is more than about an hour and a half. |
Superb detail, I went to Tebay on my way to Glasgow and stayed right by the Science park. Really loved the massive park in the city too so a day there might work at some point. | |
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| Scotland Holidays on 08:40 - Aug 19 with 3680 views | HatStand |
Arisaig lovely beach + Mallaig
Fort William good inland central base for many nearby attractions. [Post edited 19 Aug 2023 8:42]
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