marigo13

We are two families with 3 boys ages 5 - 13 planning a Christmas holiday in Scotland. Should we drive from London at that time of year or take the train?

We plan to spend a week in Scotland staying throught to the 27th of December before going back to London and flying back to Singapore.

Where should we begin our trip? Glasgow or Edinburgh?

Any suggestions of a nice warm castle to stay for Christmas?

If we take the train up we will rent a car to drive around. Is Loch Ness easily accessable?

Appreciate any pointers. I'm a Sinclair but have not visited Scotland since the 60s with my parents.

Frances

If you are flying Singapore, then unless you really want to go to London, they fly into Manchester. This is not nearly so far to travel to Scotland.

isabel

I think Edinburgh is by far the more interesting city for tourists anyway. It's a visually stunning city with beautiful architecture and many worthwhile sites. In addition to the castle I would think your boys would enjoy the Royal Musuem/Museum of Scotland complex. Also the People's Story on the Royal Mile. I spent a week in Edinburgh and only drove through Glasgow but I think there is a reason so many people choose Edinburgh over Glasgow. I just posted my photos of Edinburgh (and the tiny bit of the rest of Scotland that I saw) at www.pbase.com/annforcier

Ackislander

All good advice, but here are some additions.

Be sure to take your boys to a pantomime. They are too old for it, but they will remember it forever, mostly because they will have a terrific time once the lights go down and they don't have to be cool any more.

Like steam trains? Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway has lots of holiday excursion packages for the holidays.

One virtue of Glasgow is that you can easily take the West Highland Railway. Can you go to Ft William and back in a day? Maybe someone can answer that, but the scenery will be spectacular at that time of year, esp since you live in Singapore.

nanabee

isabel
your photos are incredible!
and what a great web site - my son in law is an avid photographer and i'm sure he'd be interested in this site too.
thanks again.

janisj

I'm assuming you will already be in London before heading up to Scotland - right?

I'd definitely consider taking the sleeper train from London to Edinburgh. The boys will probably think it is a great adventure. And w/ 7 of you traveling it couldbe a big party. You leave Euston Station late at night and arrive in the center of Edinburgh the next morning.

There are lots of castle hotels. I would think their Christmas bookings do fill up, but New Years is the big holiday in Scotland so Christmas is an easier time to find accomodations. What is your budget - some are VERY pricey. I definitely think Edinburgh would have more for the kids (and parents for that matter) - but the transport museum in Glasgow is a great place for kids. Glasgow is an easy day trip from Edinburgh by train.

marigo13

Thanks everyone for your replies. I think I'll try to convince the family (adult members) to go by train. The boys are Thomas fans and this should go down well.

Budget is not really a problem. It's granddad's Christmas treat. The joke is we're going to look for really nice places to stay. Granddad

janisj

this site lists many of the Castle hotels
http://www.celticcastles.com/

Of those listed, for location, etc I'd check out Borthwick, Culcreuch, and Melville.

Plane Castle would be great if you wanted the whole castle to yourselves for a week to use as a base for touring around.

But there are also lots of other castle hotels all over Scotland

annw

We went there when our boys were in that age range -- had a great time. Though we did visit Glasgow briefly I would definitely vote for Edinburgh. We actually stayed right on the Royal Mile in university lodging, but it sounds like you can afford much nicer digs (though probably not better located!). They enjoyed climbing to Arthur's Seat, watching gents in full trad gear playing the bagpipes, marching troops going on toward the Castle, touring the Castle, and some plain old window shopping and touring. It was a great trip.

sheila

Isabel- marigo, sorry for hijacking your thread- those photos are amazing. Well done. I've paused halfway and will finish them later.

Marigo, I would come up on the train withot any doubt. Take a day time trip-bearing in mind it'll be dark by 4pm-and take the east coast line to Edinburgh.

Glasgow's got a lot going for it, but I'd defintely pitch for Edinburgh. I just looked at the panto sites, and I see that the King's in Glasgow is doing "Sleeping Beauty" with a great cast.

The King's in Edinburgh is doing Goldilocks and the Three Bears with a somewhat less starry cast.

There's a matinee on the 24th. Why not take them through en route to where you want to be for Christmas?

Now, castle hotels... not my idea of a good thing, particularly with kids. And I don't do it so I can't recommend; but why don't you take them to Aviemore.

Aviemore was a railway town in remote Speyside, before they decided to turn it into a holiday resort in the 1960s, and covered it with concrete. However, the "resort" was bought out a few years back and Macdonalds are trying to turn it into a far better type of experience. And I think they're succeeding. They have always specialised in Santa type things.

Have a look at this

http://www.aviemorehighlandresort.co...ore%202007.pdf

Or, you could stay at nearby Coylumbridge Hotel- it's a Hilton- which specialises in kid's stuff too, and just take advantage of what's going on in the town.

Other options would be Crieff Hydro or Craigendarroch hotels.

Stobo Castle in the Borders seems to be doing quite a nice package (at least, for adults).

Money no object? Have a look at Christmas at Inverlochy Castle.

Loch Ness is normally accessible. You can never predict weather round here, but I would suggest it is "usual" for us to get no significant snow before New Year, so you should be fine.