We have a 4 day holiday driving out of Glasgow. 2 of us are keen on big mountain hikes, 2 of us less so (more of an interest in beaches, castles, towns). Where should we head and stay without having to spend the whole time driving? It will be early April and our teenage kids first visit. Thanks
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where have you been before?
how big is big mountain? In April potentially still snow on peaks. How long is too long in a car?
what counts as a town? Stirling/Oban/Aviemore/Pitlochry/Braemar
no bikes?
self catering? Luxury hotel? Nice restaurants? Good cafes?
Good waterproofs all round and happy to embrace what Scotland throws at you or need an indoor option if it rains for 4 days solid?
teenage =13 or 19?
Mrs Bubs and I haven't visited since before the kids but we have been to Skye and that part of the North West coast a few times, Aviemore, Braemar and surrounds.
Kids 13 and 16, both used to hiking but the older is a scout and loves adventure.
Any mountain looks big when you are from Surrey but I suppose big enough to be a challenge but also suitable for the less experienced. My wife loves lower level loch and glen walks.
Not fussed about weather, town big enough for a couple of pubs, things to see. No bikes on this trip.
Accommodation likely to be pub, B&B, cottage type thing.
Arran?
It's got a bit of everything.
It's like a tiny Scotland for people who don't have long enough for the full thing.
we have been to Skye and that part of the North West coast a few times, Aviemore, Braemar and surrounds.
Up Ullapool way then?
Arran wpuld appear to ticketh the boxes and includes a ferry to boot
Base yourself around Perth, Dunkeld,Crieff, maybe Comrie but you will be kicking yourself for not taking bikes
So many good hills nearby from full on tough Munro to easy walks with good views, rivers a plenty and one or two waterfalls
Edinburgh would even fit the description if you squint at the pentlands just right.
Callandar
Pitlochry
Moffat
Peebles
Your brief is pretty easy to fill I don't think there much point in travelling to far to just lose time to driving.
In find the walk the highlands website useful. It’s worth checking as some remote areas can be fairly devoid of intermediate length walks.
Inverness.
Stop for a walk on the way north, a couple of days around Inverness, Moray Coast and another stop on the way down.
Well Skye is about 5hrs drive from Glasgow Airport (if you are flying up and hiring?). So how long is acceptable from when you land to reach your accommodation? And how long do you want to spend in the car to drive to a mountain? Or if you are walking distance to a mountain - how far do the others want to drive to a town?
Arran is a nice suggestion but the ferry is another hassle/risk/cost. You could be in the trossachs in the time it takes to drive to Troon. But if a ferry does appeal then Argyll and Cowal have plenty of scenery and the option to do an outbound trip via ferry (to Dunoon) and back via Rest and Be Thankful so you see more than the same road in both directions. Towns are a bit run down though.
I’d find anything north of Crianlarach/Pitlochry to be unnecessary travel travel time - unless of course you switch the plan to Fly to Inverness! Your view may be different.
When you say 4 days, does that include the travelling days, or 2 days, or do you have 4 plus the travelling days.
Must be the latter I guess
West has infinitely better scenery, East has significantly better weather...
I think I'm going to suggest mull.
Yes, I am.
Beaches and mountain. Wildlife. Mad scenery. Easy enough drive from Glasgow. Ferry should be ok. Tobermory (and Oban). Boat trips galore.
OK, I’m a little biased but springtime in the Hebrides can be glorious (often the best weather) and boat trip to Iona or Staffa a great day out and before it gets too busy with traffic. Come across from Oban to Mull and go back via the Tobermory to Kilchoan ferry and the drive back across Ardnamurchan to Argour - Corran ferry, Glencoe etc. Lots of single track roads, but it helps slow the pace and take time to enjoy the views.
Last year my son and I based ourselves near Dunkeld, which itself is a lovely location but equally very accessible in different directions (on decent roads) with lots of historical sites, places to visit like Perth, and great outdoor opportunities, recommended!
I'd say base yourself in mid Perthshire, somewhere like Dunkeld or Pitlochry. Really nice cabins in the Cally forest just outside Dunkeld run by Atholl estates.
From there, you have short journey access to a super wide range of outside stuff ... Ballater, Aviemore, Fort William, Oban, Comrie, Aberfeldy, the list goes on.
It's where I'd live if I didn't have to work. I live down in Dunblane, which is good for Edinburgh/Glasgow access while still being "countryside".
As others have mentioned, bring or hire bikes. So many cracking options around. Also, cracking area for a bit of rafting or canoeing.
Oban would be my choice in that scenario. You could do The Cobbler on the way it's a smallish but perfectly formed hill . You doon't need to get to the summit to have a great day. Cruachan would also be doable with a short drive from Oban it's a bigger hill though.
Plenty to see and do around Oban for a couple of days, and some lovely views over the bay from the various wee hills in the town
school holidays are 7th April to 21st April so some places might be quite busy
Loch Katrine eco pods where the weegies get their water from would be a good stay or maybe better in Aberfoyle
Ben A'an is an easy wee nip up if you are reasonably fit and still light well after 8pm , a bike run around the loch is ace but I see no bikes
Ben Ledi not too far away although not a Munro is a cracking hill with Callander nearby
As good as all the other suggestions are ,sitting for hours in a car when you just want to get out and burn some energy I know what I'd prefer
