Scotland with the family and a dog!

JohnN

JohnN

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Hi,

We're heading up to Scotland camping for a week or so (by the sounds if it into the rain!), anyway we will be staying at fort William and later ullerpool and was wondering if you good peeps have any ideas on places to go with my mob (the better half, a girl of 5, a boy of 2 and a scraggly mutt), not just for photos as that would bore them to death!

Ta,

John
 
Depends what you are into. You can get the 'Harry Potter' steam train from Ft William to Mallaig or drive the route and get pictures of it on the viaduct.
 
Take the Corran Ferry (ten minutes on the water) and drive to Ardnamurchan, extremely scenic with white sand beaches and lots of rocks for the kids and dog to race about.
http://web.undiscoveredscotland.com/ustours/fortwilliam-ardnamurchan/

Ullapool is beautiful but there's not a lot to do there, it is a great stepping off point for some runs further North to places like Durness (Smoo Cave)
If you're into Geology there's a unique geological feature at Kylesku, huge and the only place in the world you'll see it.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/assyntnature/6986889537/
 
Some of the very best white sand beaches and crystal clear seas are on the west coast of Scotland, just a shame its too cold to go for a dip
 
does anybody know how close the road is to the beach at Ardnamurchan? to the op ski lift at Aanoch Moor takes you half way up Ben Nevis on the back side, theres the ice wall in Kinlochleven, you can take the dog on the harry potter train to mallaig, loads of walking of couse an easy one with the little ones is the hospital walk at Glen coe, we too are back up in September and can't wait
 
How are you planning on getting from Fort William to Ullapool?

My suggestion:
I would probably stick to the west coast rather than go via Inverness. Take the A87 which goes to Skye and you'll pass Eilean Donan Castle. Then take the A890 up through Strathcarron (you might also consider poping over to Skye or go to Plockton, the only place in Scotland I think with palm trees lol). From there you could go up to Torridon via applecross or carry on along the A890 to Achnasheen, then take the A832 past Loch Maree etc (my aunt and uncle run a B&B there) until it joins up with A835. Hopefully that gives you a few ideas and provide some good photo opportunities. The Undiscovered Scotland website is pretty helpful too.

Craig. :)
 
CraigyBoy86 said:
or go to Plockton, the only place in Scotland I think with palm trees lol).
Snip
The Undiscovered Scotland website is pretty helpful too.

Craig. :)
Click to expand...

I was caught in rush hour traffic in Plockton last time I was there, three cows took five minutes to amble down the high street :lol:

A big plus one for the Undiscovered Scotland website too!

Applecross by the mountain route is a fantastic drive but I'd not recommend it for young kids except the countryside is very Hobbit/Lord of the Rings like going up the mountain.
 
If you want a flavour of the scenery in the NW of Scotland then Craig's route from Fort William to Ullapool could not be bettered.

However, if you take in Applecross (and if you are as close as Loch Carron, you really have to - the Pass of the Cattle is not to be missed) it is about 220 miles and with the stops for food, play and generally just being knocked out by the views it is going to be a long journey.

If do not have campsites booked already you could break the journey.

Applecross has a site, I've not used it but it looks good.

http://www.applecross.uk.com/campsite/

There is also a good pub in the village, and excellent cafe in the grounds of Applecross House and a good beach.


Gairloch has two campsites.

1. http://gairlochcampsite.co.uk/

in the village is good and does not feel like it is the village.

2. http://www.sandsholidaycentre.co.uk/

is about 3 miles from Gairloch, which makes shopping at little more difficult but you can walk from any part of the site straight on to the beach.



Ullapool campsite

http://www.broomfieldhp.com/

is on the edge of the town and overlooks the loch.

About 8 miles north of Ullapool is Ardmair campsite

http://ardmair.com/caravan.html

Not been there for a few years but it is probably the best I know - great location, lots of space and the best facilities I've seen anywhere.

Dave
 
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Steep said:
There are lots of small cove type beaches and the bigger bay at Sanna, the road will come very close in places.

The map here is clickable http://web.undiscoveredscotland.com/ustours/fortwilliam-ardnamurchan/ check out some of the pictures.
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thanks i need ones that are a distance away from the road, one of my spanners will cross a road to see whats on the other side hence asking, we once went down to mallaig and came back up the coast road to try and find a beach they could run on but all were too close,,,,,,, guess we'll just stick to all the forest walks we love up there:)
 
Damn, thats a lot to take in - my wife and I will take a proper look tonight and we both thank you all for the advice - as of writing (which may change once we've read all this!) we plan to just drive up to Fort William and stay here, then had planned on just driving up to Ullapool and staying at this one, we're only actually camping for 6 nights (all in), both are dog friendly, which is of course a must :)

Hmn, I wonder if this route wouldgive nice views ;) ...here...
 
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You realise you can use Google maps to see the route foot by foot?
Make sure you try the seafood up the west coast, pretty cheap but awesome - and about as fresh as it is possible to get.

The midges are pretty tame this year, no chance for the second batch to hatch due to the weather. Take 'skin so soft' just in case, it works better than any midge repellant.
 
Cheers Ken - some sort of Deet already got, which hopefully will do.

Given we've only a couple of days and small children it will be a car trip, though just for fun I'll see how long that trip would take on foot... hmn 66 hours, not as bad as I thought :)

Great idea on the seafood, will definitely give that a go.
 
You asked about a route to Ullapool up the Great Glen and via Muir of Ord.

This is very personal but I find the road up the Great Glen a bit tedious. However, the A835 from Garve to Ullapool is, IMO, really good.

Have a look on Google Street view and see what you think.

Dave
 
I think Garve might be a little out of the way, but the planned route above does take in some of that route, joining from the A832, funny really as I usually avoid driving as much as possible and I'm actually now planning on having one of the days activities as the drive.. very unlike me!!

BTW I really appropriate all the work you put into that post and it was the reason for me changing the drive :)
 
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Not sure what you mean by Garve being a bit out of the way, John, as Garve is on the route up the Great Glen that you asked about.

One thing that I have learned from experience is that it is very easy to spend too much time driving in Scotland instead of enjoying it - the travel times are often longer than anticipated.

No problem about providing info; happy to help anyone wanting to visit Scotland.

Dave

BTW Scotland can become an addition.
 
I'd agree having driven it today that the A82 Fort William - Inverness road is tedious at this time of year, it's rare you get above 45 mph, most of the 80-90minute drive is spent behind a campervan/tour bus/artic unless you do it very early a.m. or after 6 in the evening. Lovely views on the road but only the passengers get a chance to appreciate it.
 
Tringa said:
Not sure what you mean by Garve being a bit out of the way, John, as Garve is on the route up the Great Glen that you asked about.

One thing that I have learned from experience is that it is very easy to spend too much time driving in Scotland instead of enjoying it - the travel times are often longer than anticipated.

No problem about providing info; happy to help anyone wanting to visit Scotland.

Dave

BTW Scotland can become an addition.
Click to expand...

Sorry, a couple of posts up I linked to a Google maps route that adds a couple of hours to the trip but keeps close to the coast.
 
Thanks all - all planned up and ready now - going to stay at the spot you suggested Dave (Ardmair), taking in the coastal route.

That site swung it over my original because of the closer location to Ullapool (for a cruise we plan on going on - here) and it has a play park which will go down very well with the kids!

Now how on earth do I squeeze the camera bag in :eek:
 
Lol, evil weather,.the threat of downpours (which kept on pushing back a day) meant we never got past fort William, still it was a great holiday, next year we plan to overnight at Glasgow then go straight up.
 
lizzy23 said:
does anybody know how close the road is to the beach at Ardnamurchan? to the op ski lift at Aanoch Moor takes you half way up Ben Nevis on the back side, theres the ice wall in Kinlochleven, you can take the dog on the harry potter train to mallaig, loads of walking of couse an easy one with the little ones is the hospital walk at Glen coe, we too are back up in September and can't wait
Click to expand...

I am afraid that the gondola goes up Aonach Mor and not Ben Nevis. Aonach Mor is a completely separate mountain.
 
Till next year then John! just phone ahead to check whether we're all under water or not :lol:
 
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