FAO Jocks - short break suggestions oop north

[Swervin_Mervin]

Partly related to the holiday pricing moan thread, but we're looking for somewhere to go for a few days in Feb. As one can't fly anywhere interesting from Manchester, or the NW even (options are largely limited to the likes of Lanzarote etc unless willing to fly Ryanair) - we were instead thinking of finally doing a break north of the border. Hence I'm looking for suggestions from you locals please

Wife's requirements are - a log cabin in the woods somewhere where she can sit sipping whisky in front of a log fire/stove.

I'm not quite so reclusive, or keen to sit on my arse, so wouldn't mind being at least within a short walk of civilsation, even if that's just a pub. And some good walks.

ANy suggestions of places to look?

[ZedLeg]

There's loads of places doing camping and little self catering cabins around Loch Lomond. You can be as isolated as you want but you're still pretty close to a few small towns and about an hour from Glasgow.

[mik]

Needs more thought, but this popped into my head:

We rented a lodge here a few years back. Upside down setup (living area upstairs, bedrooms down). Can use the facilities at the Coylumbridge hotel as it is on the same campus. Aviemore only a couple of miles away. Cairngorm ski slopes and the gorgeous Loch Morlich just up the road.

It's not is the middle of nowhere, but offers a little of that. Most of the lodges are timeshare - when we went I'd say about 30% were occupied so it was quiet and felt pretty private.

https://www.hiltongrandvacations.com/en ... -vacations


edit: also we were up in Skye during the summer (rented motorhome) and were commenting about the sheer volume of new log cabins around the island. Wasnt like that when we were last up (prob 15yrs ago). Possibly worth some further investigation.

[Ascender]

I was going to suggest Inverness/Aviemore/Great Glen as there's lots of options without being too remote. Loch Lomond too which is nice and close to Glasgow and you have Glencoe on the doorstep so to speak.

Then I'd suggest the Isles if you was somewhere further away and a bit more remote although like @mik says, everywhere is probably a bit more busy than they used to be for this sort of thing.

[mik]

Then I'd suggest the Isles if you was somewhere further away and a bit more remote

Going to one of the islands feels somehow "special". Have spent time on Mull which was lovely. Even going the short hop to the Isle Of Arran feels different somehow..... but I'd head further North personally.

[Swervin_Mervin]

Cheers gentlemen. Some pointers there to check out ta. I fancy heading to the islands as well - my dad loves them and raves about them all the time.

[DeskJockey]

Then I'd suggest the Isles if you was somewhere further away and a bit more remote

Going to one of the islands feels somehow "special". Have spent time on Mull which was lovely. Even going the short hop to the Isle Of Arran feels different somehow..... but I'd head further North personally.

Was going to suggest Mull. Our digital photo frame showed use a picture from our holiday there in 2009 (drove from Birmingham in the Micra). It was stunningly beautiful.

[nuttinnew]

https://www.facebook.com/strangeplacesinscotland/

[Gavin]

How many days is "a few"? as Skye is a long way from me in Scotland, took most of a day to get there on great and spectacular roads but from Northern England it would still be a day I reckon.

It is stunning, as are all the Scottish Islands I have been to.

Plenty of log cabins around the Borders where I live, the EVO team regularly test around my way and Kielder also has cabins although they are just over the Border in Ingoland.

Also in Borders you have world class off road biking.

D & G also have any number of cabins and a huge dark sky area for sitting sipping scotch whilst watching the starts of an evening and is closer to you geographically.

[Barry]

You could just do Skye in a day, in the car, but I'd recommend checking the ferries are running. We were hoping to do Harris last year and bailed in the end, as ferries were broken/not running.

[Swervin_Mervin]

Well, the wife found sometihng she liked. Up near Inverness!

So a bloody long drive will be broken up, with us stopping in Moffat on the way. Drive back will be a long day though.

[ZedLeg]

Lots of nice stuff to do around Moffat. Worth taking a walk up the gray mare's tail if you have the time.

[dinny_g]

Well, the wife found sometihng she liked. Up near Inverness!

So a bloody long drive will be broken up, with us stopping in Moffat on the way. Drive back will be a long day though.

I recommend a drive down the B852 or the "Other" side of Lough Ness - Very quiet and off the beaten track but some lovely places to stop along the way

[mik]

Lough Ness

[mik]

Well, the wife found sometihng she liked. Up near Inverness!

Nice. Also lots to do in Aviemore just down the road (quad biking is good, deer feeding out of your hands, horse riding, aerial adventure course, clay pigeon shooting etc etc). Loch Morlich has canoes, kayaks, etc etc.

[dinny_g]

Lough Ness

- Fair point - I assumed he'd be getting to Inverness via Fort William/Invergarry side (as that's the way I always go) so suggested the other side as an alternative to the usual A82

But of course, he could be going via Aviemore which you're right, is pretty cool.