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Trip with older kids (15 and 11)

Hello! I’m planning a UK trip at the end of August with our family of 4, two kids ages 15 and 11.

3 nights London
3 nights Scotland TBD
3 nights Edinburgh

We are planning on the overnight from London to Scotland, but not sure where to spend the middle 3 nights. Inverness, Ft William and Aberdeen are all possibilities for arrival from the Caledonian Sleeper.

We’d love to do some hiking and adventuring that might appeal to the teens. But we’d also love to either minimize rental car time or avoid renting altogether. So I’m wondering if there’s a place to consider that might be well served by local shuttle/bus or taxi options?

Thanks for any suggestions!!

Posted by
1726 posts

In all a car is probably easier for a family.

I'd ask what are their interests? If you go to Aberdeen there are a lot of castles in that area. Fort William is more out doors especially if you do not have a car.

Posted by
8982 posts

Aberdeen would probably be th easiest, as it's relatively close to Edinburgh, and there is a lot to see. You could even take the bus up from Aberdeen to places like Cruden Bay and the ruins of Slains Castle. But it's a very difference atmosphere than the Highlands, so it really depends on what you want to see. You could also head to Cairngorms.

If you're interested in hiking, this site should help as it has a wealth of information on hiking in Scotland, all sorted by location. https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/ It really is a wonderful resource.

Also, the Undiscovered Scotland might help you pin down a location, too. https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/

Posted by
383 posts

Inverness is very nice, with lots to see in the area. A car would be helpful there, but there are buses that run from Inverness out to Culloden and a longer trip to Cawdor Castle. We had our kids with us when they were a similar age to yours and they loved Inverness as the town is compact and the sites nearby are accessible for kids (Culloden has a very kid-friendly visitor center experience, Loch Ness can be kid friendly for a short visit or boat ride, Cawdor Castle is interesting).

Fort Williams is a very functional town, with lots of hiking nearby. A car would probably make sense there.

I have not been to Aberdeen so I'll let others offer insights there.

Posted by
2563 posts

Have you thought about Aviemore - lots of accommodation and eating choices as well as loads of activities for people of all ages. Have a look at these two websites for ideas.
https://www.visitscotland.com/places-to-go/aviemore/things-to-do

https://www.visitaviemore.com/attractions/

Ideas for walks in and around the area here.

If you are interested in wild life, have a look at the Rothiemurchus website for feeding deer or a g=hairy coo safari.

Loch Morlich is the place for watersports.

There is the Funicular up Cairngorm or a more leisuerly trip on the Strathspey Steam Railway... .

Or for a very different experience visit the Highland Folk Museum at Newtonmore to find out what life waqs like 100-150 years ago.

Inverness isn't far, with Culloden Battlefield, site of the last battle to be fought on British soil marking the defeat of the Jacobite Army and the Stuart claim to the throne. It was an absolute shambles. Close by are Clava Cairns, dating from 3000-4000 years ago and believed to be the inspiration for Craig na Dun in the very popular TV series ’Outlanders’.

Posted by
101 posts

Thank you all for these suggestions!! A lot to think about. I know we would enjoy any of the spots so it's hard to choose! Aviemore is definitely a consideration I can add to the list, thank you!

Because our London and Edinburgh time are likely to be heavy on historical sites, museums, etc. I'm envisioning this part of the trip to be more active exploration. The kids like hiking and great views but are more excited by roller coaster rides and sporting ;)

We're not opposed to renting a car if we really must, so please keep the ideas coming for areas to consider - especially that would appeal to an athletic teen boy!

If you're still looking for ideas with kids, Dunnattor Castle outside of Stonehaven (1.5 hrs from Edinburgh and 30 min from Aberdeen by car) is an amazing castle ruin. (And I think Mel Gibson's Hamlet film used it for some scenes.) Windy but great hiking and exploring. A car or a guide would be needed for it, though. Stop in Stonehaven for some fish and chips. I studied at Uni in Aberdeen--no one ever visits Aberdeen bc it's not a tourist destination but it's beautiful and the people are delightful.

Posted by
101 posts

Certainly still looking for ideas!!

I’ve just discovered that the Argyllshire Highland Games will be in Oban during our trip, which I think would be a really memorable experience. So that’s leaning me a little more toward the Ft. William/Glencoe area, if anyone has more thoughts in that direction!!

Posted by
9236 posts

Dunnattor Castle outside of Stonehaven (1.5 hrs from Edinburgh and 30 min from Aberdeen by car) is an amazing castle ruin. (And I think Mel Gibson's Hamlet film used it for some scenes.) Windy but great hiking and exploring. A car or a guide would be needed for it, though.

Not correct. The hourly X7 Dundee to Aberdeen bus stops at Dunnottar Castle.

Posted by
9236 posts

Trying to combine Oban with Glencoe is just a little difficult.

What you could do is to get off the Fort William sleeper at Crianlarich, and catch the bus to the Isle of Skye from outside the station. That goes through Glencoe on the way to Fort William.

If you stay on the sleeper to Fort William you could then have the morning in Fort William, then the lunchtime bus to Oban. That would also apply if you had caught the bus through Glencoe to Fort William.

From Oban there are two possible island trips (apart from Mull)-
the island of Kerrera on the little ferry (that can be done one way, then dine at Kerrera Marine and take their water taxi back into the centre of Oban),. The ferry leaves from Ganavan Sands about two miles out of Oban- a nice walk. But there is also a twice a day bus, the #417 goes down there in connection with school start and end times.

It would be possible on arrival day to arrive from Fort William, check in to your hotel, then take the afternoon school bus down to the ferry. Do the south island circular walk, go to the marina at the north end of the island, eat dinner there then the water bus back to town. A memorable arrival day.

OR
the island of Lismore- great walking over there. A ferry runs from Oban several times a day. The other way to do Lismore is to catch the very early #005 bus or the later Fort William bus to Appin.
It is about a 45 minute walk down to Port Appin for the little passenger ferry over to the north end of Lismore. Then walk the length of the island, and then the vehicle ferry back to Oban.

To do Glencoe from Oban take the morning Fort William bound bus to Ballachulish, and connect into a Glasgow bound bus; the same in the evening on the way back to Oban.

News is awaited, in maybe 6 to 8 weeks time as to whether extra buses are to be run this year on the Fort William to Oban route. Vague hints are being dropped.

Posted by
101 posts

Thank you, isn31c!

I’m guessing if we stay in this area, we would need to just get over ourselves and rent a car, ha! So I’m certainly not ruling it out.

I’m wondering if you’d recommend staying in Ft. William? Or in Oban? Or elsewhere? I mentioned Glencoe only because it comes up frequently, and seems to be roughly between the two.

Also, I’d love to know how you replied to a post with some of the language from that post above :)

Posted by
9236 posts

Also, I’d love to know how you replied to a post with some of the language from that post above :)

What you do is you copy the relevant text, then in the menu bar below 'Add Reply' you will see a quotation mark (4th from left), click that then paste in the copied text.

On the other matter of where to stay if your motivation is the Argyllshire Gathering I would say stop in Oban, and try to find somewhere central (not out on the Corran Esplanade) as the Gathering by all accounts is a totally immersive experience, and you want to be in the middle of it. Now you may well be too late to get something central and may have to settle for the Esplanade, but it's worth trying. The other issue is that the traffic and parking may well be fun that day, so being there, not arriving in, is likely the best idea.
The other thing is you have asked for hiking and adventuring. Well Oban has an airport. And Hebridean Air do flights out from there to the islands of Coll and Tiree. They are Public Service Obligation flights (and school flights as children from the out isles and even parts of Mull board in Oban during the week) but being on tiny planes are superb low level sightseeing flights- aviation as it should be. Quite a treat. Both Coll and Tiree are great isles to explore- Tiree especially. Tiree even has a ring and ride bus to anywhere on the island.

Without the Gathering it may be more even in my mind between Oban and Fort William.