10 Reasons Why The Highlands Are A Hit With Families #parentpanel

I have the pleasure of being part of the Parent Panel panel.  This means I get to highlight a fabulous family friendly holiday from Parent Friendly Stays on my blog every so often.

This time I want to introduce the Isles of Glencoe Hotel, but also to tell you about the area in general, as Scotland is very close to my heart.  I lived in Scotland for seven years when I was a child.  If you have never visited Scotland before, here are ten reasons why you should take your family to the Highlands.

• It is home to the West Coast Railways – Children will adore riding the Jacobite steam train (aka the Hogwarts Express) along the Harry Potter line.  The trip is 84 mile and goes from Fort William to Mallaig and back again.  It passes through the Glenfinnan viaduct, which featured in the films.  You will also pass Britain’s highest mountain, deepest loch, shortest river and most westerly station – arriving in Mallaig, one of the world’s most picturesque fishing villages.  So even if you are not Potter fans, there will be lots of amazing sights to see.

• You can get your action on at the Action Glen Activity Centre – Get your fill of Paddlesports, archery, mountain biking, in Scotland’s newest activity centre.

• Your family with love to visit Oban Sea Life Centre – Situated on Loch Creran, the Oban Sea Life Centre is a sanctuary for orphaned seal pups.  It also houses an aquarium full of exotic fish. There are also otters and turtles, a shop, café and outdoor play area, so you can really make it into a day.

• Urquhart Castle will take your breath away – I have had the pleasure of visiting this beautiful castle as my sister-in-law actually got married there.  It is a medieval castle on the shores of Loch Ness, providing you with lots of photo opportunities.

• The best way to see the countryside is to ride through it – For me there is nothing like exploring on horseback and the Lettershuna Riding Centre has a selection of horses and ponies for hacking and trekking through the amazing countryside.

• Enjoy the views while hurtling down a mountain – Glencoe Mountain is Scotland’s most popular place to ski with runs to suit everyone.

• Your kids will go bonkers for the South of Oban Seafari – Baby would adore this, a trip on the loch to visit some of the best sea life in the area, as well as Corryvreckan, the world’s third largest whirlpool.

• You can chill out on beautiful beaches – As the case with most families we love beaches and there are plenty around Glencoe.  Cuil Bay has wide sands and views over to Mull. Alternatively, Kilmalieu is on the opposite shore of Loch Linnhe and is a beautiful south-facing bay.

• Enjoy visiting Castle Stalker and even have a cake while you appreciate the view – Castle Stalker is tall and dramatic, rising from a rock in Loch Linnhe.  You can book a tour of the privately owned castle, or get the best view of it from the Stalker View Café.  There’s an excellent wildlife hub next to the café.

• While you are exploring all these fabulous things you can stay at the equally fabulous Isles of Glencoe Hotel.  Situated in a breath-taking lochside setting at the foot of dramatic Glencoe  The Hotel & Leisure Centre nestles on the side of a peninsula reaching into Loch Leven.  The hotel prides itself on being friendly and modern, offering everything you might need on holiday.

Here are some of the highlights of the hotel, which really set is apart from the competition;

Feature rooms –  These rooms really are a godsend to parents.  Having either patio doors or a picture window taking in the loch views, they are divided into two with a partition wall, creating two slightly separate areas.  Perfect if you want to use lights after the kids are in bed!   All of the rooms are en-suite, have complimentary WiFi and a well-stocked hospitality tray with tea & coffee-making facilities.

Lochside Restaurant with amazing views – The restaurant enjoys amazing lock views and uses Scottish ingredients in its creations.

Indoor Pool – This lovely indoor pool and sauna is available for all guests to use and is open from 7am until 10pm every day.

Pets are welcome – Dogs are welcome to stay at the hotel for a small charge.  There are plenty of walks in the area immediately surrounding the hotel and the nature trails at the Dragon’s Tooth Golf Course make an ideal leg stretch in beautiful surroundings.

So have I tempted you to take your family to the Highlands?  What would you enjoy about Scotland?

Disclosure: This is my entry to the #ParentPanel competition.