Edinburgh Days 1-3, Pitlochry Days 4-7, Isle of Skye Days 7-9.

Pitlochry

This is a beautiful region of Scotland that lies right on the border of what begins the Scottish Highlands. This area is home to beautiful lakes, rivers, and outdoor countryside. Although more remote, it is a great place to vacation with children because of the extensive outdoor adventures and centrality of the location. We had rented a car here and found that was the easiest way to get around and see the area with the kids. One of the major things for small children to realize is that it is very remote and access to bathrooms might be difficult. I highly recommend bringing a portable children’s toilet similar to this one.

Lodging

We stayed in a great rental home called The Foss House, it was a beautiful estate home near a lake, surrounded by lots of sheep farms. Unfortunately, it seems this house may have been bought out and is no longer a vacation rental. I have listed some options that are nearby and give a similar vibe. 

Airbnb: East Lodge

Airbnb: Perth and Kinross renovated cottage

Eating

This area of Scotland is much more rural and has a lot fewer options than Edinburgh. We chose to do a self-catering rental for the reason of also having a kitchen. We mainly would go to the grocery store and make our own meals at the rental. However below are a few places in the town of Pitlochry or Perth to try depending on the location of your rental. Keep in mind most of these places and towns do close down early.

Things to Do

Glenturret Distillery: This distillery was located in Crieff and was high on my husband’s list of things to do. I thought I would be bored here with the kids but the distillery is on a beautiful property with lots of places to explore. They also have a very nice restaurant where my daughter and I waited and ate with the others while we did the tour and tastings. Highly recommended, a stroller would also be fine to bring to get around. 

Loch Ness – This lake is so much larger than I had ever imagined, you will find that the area surrounding the loch is gorgeous. There are also the Urquhart Castle ruins located on the loch that you can explore. A baby carrier would be best to explore this area.

Blair Castle – The castle and grounds have a cute little playground and a farm on the grounds. Enjoy the Scottish bagpipes while having a treat from their café as well. A baby carrier would also work best here.

Pitlochry Area – This region offers a lot of outdoor spaces, there are a ton of rivers and lakes for you and your family to pull over and enjoy a picnic or let the kids run around.