Scotland Holiday

[brooklyn77]

I would like to take myself and my partner and two children to Scotland in the winter of 2007/08. By then one child will be 1 year 8 months and one will be 3 years and 4 months.

We are looking to go away for a few days to a week on a budget.

We wish only to really experience the snow and stay in a B&B or small hotel. And whilst there maybe visit a few attractions.

So, I am wondering if anyone out there can advise me of the following:

1) Where in scotland can I gaurantee a white winter...and at what time of year is best,,ie: December or January?

2) Any advice on what place is best for snow, families and sights?

Or any other info that you can provide...we dont want a package deal because its too expensive. Just a place and time that is good for a family winter break to experience the snow (and for price)

[missmoore]

I don't know if there's anywhere you can really guarantee snow, but I'd think that Aviemore would have quite a high possibility. You can also go and visit a reindeer farm while you're there, so even if there wasn't snow, you'd still feel pretty christmassy.

[KARL]

There is nowhere in Scotland that is guranteed to be under snow apart from the highest peaks. Most or all of the ski resorts are permanently on the brink of bankruptcy. I was very surprised a year back when I found out that hotels in the Highlands appear to be very reluctant to use their heating and instead are apt to rely on visual aids, such as a fire for a couple of hours or so - we trawled through something like 8 or 10 places to enjoy a meal in warmth. Our own hotel was freezing (my wife's description and I more or less concur) so with such young children I suggest you make certain your choice of place is definitely heated and not just by the time of day. That said, Scotland is hard to beat at any time of year and you can expect to have a memorable holiday so long as you don't go with too many preconceptions.

[KARL]

Oops, forgot to say: January or February are perhaps more likely to bring some snow than any other month but it could come as late as into April. Visit Scotland should be your first port of call, then some of the local tourist centres such as Inverness, Fort William, Perth or Dundee.

[nickmo]

HI B- no one will guarantee snow - certainly not to base a holiday on and as some of the lower continental resorts - below 3000 m in Italy,France, etc are having lack of snow, be prepared to keep the little ones entertained with other things for the break.

Aviemore, at the Cairngorms, has other attractions around it like the Wildlife Park etc though the Nevis range / Anoch Mor, with Fort William as a base, is a higher resort.

I would suggest one option to look at for accommodation is trawl through the info at http://www.visitscotland.com and look for Kingussie, Newtonmore or Aviemore for the Cairngorms, and Fort William / Lochaber area, for info on the b&b's etc. There is also some stuff on winter breaks which may be worth checking.

As above, January is more likely to be colder / chance os snow. Be prepared for winter driving experience though - slow roads due to ice, road closures if there really is a blizzard, and dark early nights - all part of the fu though and don't be put off - the scenery is spectacular and a clear day full of bright sun, ice over the lochs and snow on th ehills is fantastic...

Hope you have a great time!