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Have you ever dreamed of taking a road trip to Scotland, with kids?
Full disclosure - I have an incredibly patient husband, who entertains my travel plans and itchy feet. Our trip to Scotland started where any of my plans start, on a whim. During COVID, we binge watched four series of Outlander and I fell in love with the rugged coastlines and abundance of castles featured. After my husband contracted COVID on a long-haul flight in March 2020, I was hesitant to board another plane so soon, and with a move to the USA on the horizon, I was determined to show the children as much of the UK as possible. Thus, Scotland beckoned.
Our decision to embark on a road trip raised eyebrows among friends, especially considering the seven-hour journey from our village to the Scottish border and the fact that our kids were 6 and 4 years old at the time. However, after weighing the options, flying and renting a car proved to be exorbitant compared to simply hitting the road, and the plan began to take shape.
L-R: Ethan on the deserted beach at Bamburgh, the boys marvelling at the Fairy Glen and AJ taking in the view from the Whangie.
Phills parents live in the Midlands, so we broke the journey there, and then on to Northumberland. Why take that interesting, and slightly unnecessary detour? To visit Bamburgh Castle, a significant location from another of my COVID-era obsessions, The Last Kingdom. Ethan rated Bamburgh as his favourite castle of the trip, and there were many, because it had a “really great prison’. There you have it.
Bamburgh, and surrounding Northumberland was not a disappointment. The beautiful and rugged countryside was incredible and otherworldly, and I would absolutely take another trip just to explore this area in more detail.
The Scotland Itinerary
Planned to ensure that kids got plenty of wiggle time and bathroom breaks.
Bamburgh Castle
The Kelpies at Falkirk
Loch Lomond and the Trossachs
The Whangie
Sterling Castle
Ben Nevis
Isle of Skye - Fairy Pools, Fairy Glen, Neist Point Lighthouse, Dunvegan Castle
Ayr
Culzean Castle
Dumfries
From Bamburgh, we traced along the Scottish border, stopping to stretch our legs and run the kids at The Kelpies, and then on to our accommodation near Loch Lomond. We stayed there for 2 nights while we explored Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, including a day at Stirling Castle.
During our stay in Loch Lomond, we hoped to see Ben Nevis and drive through Glen Coe, a renowned scenic drive in Scotland. Unfortunately, the August we decided to go was unseasonable wet, and Ben Nevis was almost entirely covered in a very thick, low lying cloud. Maybe next time! We had to stop at the Welly Stop in Clifton, a hive of activity for wayward tourists who come horribly underprepared.
Our ‘tiny home’ on the Isle of Skye was one of the highlights of the experience, perched atop a hillside with views out across the fields and down to the water. The kids loved watching the progress of the sheep, and although it was a tiny little footprint for a family of four to stay in, it was truly magical.
A quick pit stop at Loch Aird found us exploring the waters edge
After the Isle of Skye, we made our way back to England, stopping in Ayr and Dumfries to break the journey, and visit some incredible castles along the way. The showstopper for me was Culzean Castle By then, our fifth castle (Scotland boasts plenty!), it captured the children's imaginations like no other. Owned by the National Trust for Scotland, Culzean is a child’s paradise, with grounds full of secret follies, wonderful wooden playparks and the best thing? A pirate beach. We spent hours on that beach, hunting for sea glass and really being able to feel the history - imagining little boats trying to break the castle walls under the shadow of darkness. Inside the house, they had gone to great lengths to ensure the adults could soak up the history while the children looked for a Lego figurine in each room and ticked them off their list. A clever way to keep little minds entertained.
My Highlights
The Kelpies
Culzean Castle.
The Fairy Pools on the Isle of Skye.
Where we stayed
On the Isle of Skye, we chose to use Airbnb and stayed at North Skye Pods, Oransay. If we were to do the trip again, we would have chosen two nights in North Skye, and then booked some accommodation further south for the remaining nights. Skye is beautiful, rugged and full of wildlife, but the roads are often single track and there aren’t many of them. This means that although Google plans times on a 60 mph road, the reality of the situation is that you need to add at least 30% more time for passing places and meandering sheep. By splitting the stay into two locations, you will get the chance to see more of the island.
In Loch Lomond, we had the pleasure of staying at The Nest. A beautiful tiny home, the host, Emma, had thought of everything. Walking guides and kids books on bird identification littered the space and a cute little welcome pack with goodies for the children.
Hikes for younger children
Scorrybreac Circular - 3.4km loop trail near Portree on the Isle of Skye. The walk starts in a small carpark posted "Budhmor' by the Cuillin Hill Hotel, but its really tiny and shared by the local boat rental, so start early! The walk skirts the coast and gives amazing views of the Isle of Raasay, its fairly easy but hits some steps and switchbacks at the end that little legs may find challenging. Make sure you pack plenty of water; even on a grey day we ran out. We didn't see a single other person in the few hours it took us to walk the route, and the boys enjoyed boat spotting and looking for wildlife.
Neist Point Lighthouse, Skye - be aware, the drive up to Neist Point is not for the fainthearted. It gets extremely busy and ends up being single track with cars and campers parked at the side of the road. The carpark is incredibly small.
2.2km each way, the route can be steep and really boggy on the non concreted path. We loved it, the kids did really well until AJ fell face first into a boggy puddle (luckily on the return) and we had to walk him, yelling, back to the car. That being said, the views were spectacular and its well worth the walk.
The Whangie and Auchineden Peak Circular - 4.5 km. Legend has it that the Whangie was created after a meeting between the devil, witches and warlocks. The interesting rock formations are fabled to have been created by the flicking of his tail as he flew past. We dubbed it the Whingy Whangie, as the kids felt it was too long of a walk for them but once we reached the peak it was a glorious place to sit and look at Loch Lomond and the Campsies. It was incredibly boggy, even in August, so go prepared, take lots of water and snacks for the kids. AJ was 4 and managed it without needing a carry, and the views in the Whangie were well worth the walk.
In the end, our journey through Scotland left unforgettable memories and a longing for more adventures.
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