Scotland.

[Bob]

Talk to me about Scotland.

I’m thinking of a bit of a holiday, first plan was to hire a camper but for the price of the decent one we can probably get a hotel! I want a night in Edinburgh, maybe Fife then up for a few days then back down, with a night or two in some places along the way, can anyone recommend routes and stop offs?

It’ll be a 10 day trip in total with kid/teen and maybe the dog.

 

[Thehooperman]

Edinburgh can be done in a "long" weekend so I would recommend heading up the West coast via Loch Lomond towards Fort William/Oban instead on your longer trip. The train ride is spectacular but the drive is good too.

Perthshire has some picturesque areas and the drive up from Pittlockerie to Braemar and then on to Grantown on Spey is very scenic.

Fife has some nice beaches but I've not spent too much time there apart from going to Superbikes at Knockhill.

We usually rent a cottage and travel around each day. It gives you more freedom than a hotel and you can choose what you want to eat or drink, etc. And you can just chill and watch TV if it's raining or you don't want to go out.

 

[Gramaisc]

I do feel that you might find some interest here - https://www.ecovillagefindhorn.com/ - if the trip takes you towards that area.

 

[kyoto49]

Talk to me about Scotland.

I’m thinking of a bit of a holiday, first plan was to hire a camper but for the price of the decent one we can probably get a hotel! I want a night in Edinburgh, maybe Fife then up for a few days then back down, with a night or two in some places along the way, can anyone recommend routes and stop offs?

It’ll be a 10 day trip in total with kid/teen and maybe the dog.

Done the last two years in Scotland with our dog. Few musings

It's far, and bigger than you think, don't be over ambitious, focus on an area. We did the West Coast and skye the first year and the east / north coast the second. West is wet, east is drier but the scenery is better on the west for me.

The reality of camper vanning is horrible lanes and having to park up in laybys with no facilities. After touring Scotland I hate camper vans with a vengeance. A blummin menace.

Airbnb is the way to go! Nice cottages in beautiful villages!

It's easily doable to get as far as Aberfeldy in one hit and that's a beautiful place in Perthshire central for lots of splendid countryside, forests, lochs and so mountains. You could easily have a special holiday here.

Fife is pretty but busy. We much preferred the North Aberdeenshire coast, Portsoy took my heart! And the beach along the Eastern Aberdeenshire coast were wonderful but it is far!

 

[That-Crazy-Rat-Lady]

Hello!!

Welcome to my new homeland!

West coast is more touristy but east coast is untouched!

North Aberdeenshire / Moray is known as 'the sunshine coast' yes seriously! We have very few grey days!

I have a campervan so only have good things to say about them but it's certainly a lifestyle choice and not for everyone! There are lots of very cute AirBnB's in the heart of villages and towns which are full of life and character!

Let me know if you're thinking of coming my way and I can give you a long list of beautiful places to visit!

 

[That-Crazy-Rat-Lady]

Done the last two years in Scotland with our dog. Few musings

It's far, and bigger than you think, don't be over ambitious, focus on an area. We did the West Coast and skye the first year and the east / north coast the second. West is wet, east is drier but the scenery is better on the west for me.

The reality of camper vanning is horrible lanes and having to park up in laybys with no facilities. After touring Scotland I hate camper vans with a vengeance. A blummin menace.

Airbnb is the way to go! Nice cottages in beautiful villages!

It's easily doable to get as far as Aberfeldy in one hit and that's a beautiful place in Perthshire central for lots of splendid countryside, forests, lochs and so mountains. You could easily have a special holiday here.

Fife is pretty but busy. We much preferred the North Aberdeenshire coast, Portsoy took my heart! And the beach along the Eastern Aberdeenshire coast were wonderful but it is far!

Portsoy is beautiful! I was there for new year!

Cullen, Sandend, Portknockie, Aberdour, Sunnyside all along the coast and such untouched beauty!!

It is far - 8 hours to be exact!

 

[kyoto49]

Portsoy is beautiful! I was there for new year!

Cullen, Sandend, Portknockie, Aberdour, Sunnyside all along the coast and such untouched beauty!!

It is far - 8 hours to be exact!

Agree totally. Loved that whole coast and also down towards Aberdeen, the beach at Rattray Head

 

[kyoto49]

But Portsoy is also stunning

 

[kyoto49]

If your kids are interested in surfing, daughter had a couple of excellent lessons on Sandend beach, basically had the lesson to herself and made good progress on her turns. She'd surfed a fair bit before but still recommended this little surf school for friendliness.

*Sandend, just along from Portsoy in Aberdeenshire. We walked from our cottage in Portsoy and while she surfed me and the dog ran along the big empty beach

 

[That-Crazy-Rat-Lady]

Looking over Sandend on new year's day!

 

[kyoto49]

View attachment 11998

Looking over Sandend on new year's day!

Been there Only thing missing from Sandend was a little cafe. Such a beautiful coast!

 

[That-Crazy-Rat-Lady]

Been there Only thing missing from Sandend was a little cafe. Such a beautiful coast!

That's the thing about the East coast - it's so untouched it's almost un-touristy!

Did you visit Cullen @kyoto49 ? It's about as busy as it gets!

 

[Mudgie]

The train ride is spectacular

Yes, that's how I've gone for my five trips to Scotland from 1984 to 2019, staying in Glasgow, Oban, Kyle of Lochalsh, Inverness, Dundee and Edinburgh..
i wouldn't drive that far.

 

[kyoto49]

That's the thing about the East coast - it's so untouched it's almost un-touristy!

Did you visit Cullen @kyoto49 ? It's about as busy as it gets!

Yes we did the Cullen to Portknockie circular. Beautiful little place Portknockie but all a bit too busy for us! And yet no cafe in Portknockie either. Given the circular we did is a popular one I was hoping for a tea van or toilet!

Cullen did have a cafe at the end of our walk with lovely vegan cake so a nice end to the day sitting on their bench in blazing sun!

 

[Mudgie]

There are lots of very cute AirBnB's in the heart of villages and towns which are full of life and character!

Isn't that the company blamed for driving up home rents and creating nuisances for those living near leased properties ?

 

[kyoto49]

Isn't that the company blamed for driving up home rents and creating nuisances for those living near leased properties ?

Possibly but whilst I fully understand the negative affect that rental cottages have on the property market there is also a massive economic benefit of tourists in the area. Arguably any rental cottage has both a negative and positive effect tho, not just the airbnb ones! Like anything there will always be a few spoiling it for the rest. Tourists have to stay somewhere or they don't come, then the locals complain at lack of visitors. What gives!

 

[Mudgie]

there is also a massive economic benefit of tourists in the area.

That depends on the tourists.
Those that make their own sandwiches each day and only visit attractions without an entry fee aren't beneficial to the locality but those of us who make good use of pubs and other such businesses must help boost the local economy.

 

[kyoto49]

That depends on the tourists.
Those that make their own sandwiches each day and only visit attractions without an entry fee aren't beneficial to the locality but those of us who make good use of pubs and other such businesses must help boost the local economy.

Even the most frugal of tourists will use food shops and petrol stations. Your average tourist will frequent pubs, cafes and restaurants along with the afore mentioned. Then there is trips out to castles and stately homes. That's before we factor in activities such as surfing or horseriding, the luxuries if you like. I think on balance tourism is an economic boom for most places.

 

[Mudgie]

Even the most frugal of tourists will use food shops and petrol stations. Your average tourist will frequent pubs, cafes and restaurants along with the afore mentioned. Then there is trips out to castles and stately homes. That's before we factor in activities such as surfing or horseriding, the luxuries if you like. I think on balance tourism is an economic boom for most places.

Yes, on balance tourism is an economic boom for many areas but AirBnB has undoubtedly caused problems, not only by driving up rents and making properties unaffordable for local residents but also with depriving residents of their local when, without planning permission, the entire pub is up for rent on AirBnB such as with the fourteen bedroom White Hart Inn, in Horncastle, Lincolnshire, at £667 per night, and the Queens Arms at Cowden Pound.

 

[That-Crazy-Rat-Lady]

Just to point out that a two bed cottage in Portknockie is around 90 - 100k.

No one is getting priced out up here!