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I need to start planning this years Dad Adventure Trip. This (now annual) event is when the kids (13,11 & 9) go away without Mrs S so the kids can climb cliffs, wild swim and fall off bikes without her being there to tell me off for exposing them to danger.
Last year we went to Mull and it was truly awesome. We went to Staffa, climbed hills, cooked sausages on the beach, flew kites in a gale, went and found otters and watched Sea Eagles. We stood too close to the edge of waterfalls and generally had a proper explore. So expectations are high.
So where to this year? Requirements are:
Highlands or Islands, preference for islands
Decent independent hostel to stay in
Beaches & Hills
Wet weather options for indoor things if necessary
A pub or two for eating in
Choice of trips / tours / wildlife watching
Lots of adventure
Over to hive mind. Arran is current front runner but I know it gets busy in summer and we have been there before so quite fancy exploring somewhere new..
Can I come?
Can I come?
Only if you don't mind a severe lack of planning, forgetting to wash and sporadic access to food (because trip to particular headland turns into a 5 hour Shackleton style epic story of survival)
Should also say, we have never been to Skye......
Depends when but Skye a bit of a zoo now in high season. Arran a good call. Do you camp ? Lochinver area esp Clachtoll or Achmelvich for epic camping spot with lots of areas to muck around in.
It will tick the adventure boxes but not all of the others- Raasay. It's got amazing water, fissures, caves and arches. Perhaps you could do half on Skye and half there? I've worked there on and off for ten years doing outdoor ed so a bit biased but its a real escape
Black Isle
Almost an Island.
Has Beaches.
Has Dolphins.
Has bike trails.
Has wee brewery.
Has beavers close by.
Has Pubs.
Has funny wee ferry across to Nigg.
Wet weather options for indoor things if necessary
This is the restrictive bit. Left-field but have you considered Caithness/North Coast? Some great beaches, cliffs. brochs, standing stones. couple of small towns with facilities, museums etc. Not reached honeypot status (yet). Day trip to Orkney easily possible.
Current front runner is Arran but also thinking of Benbecula / Uists. Have found a cracking hostel on Benbecula but thinking 5 days might be a bit long there. Could always split time between two islands and stay on Barra.
So many options!
We're going back to the Uists again this summer. That'll be 5 years out of 6. Indoor activities are limited but the whole chain is an outdoor lovers playground. I'm sure you'll love it.
Harris and Lewis - beaches, hills, ancient stones, some great independent hostels. Not so good if weather pants mind but it is so windy that better weather comes along soon (and goes away again...)
Rùm. It could be a proper adventure. Rocky mountains, beaches, and nice tracks for cycling across the island. Plenty of wildlife - otters, eagles, or a boat trip to look for dolphins.
But no pub, and not much to do indoors (though the castle tour is interesting).
No idea about hostels but i had a great week in Plockton when i was a nipper (where Hamish Macbeth was filmed). Hired a wee boat for fishing, had another boat trip out to see the seals etc, pubs and shops. The beach in the village is stoney iirc.