It’s a family affair
Child-friendly getaways prove invaluable for these SF subscribers, who enjoy some time out from the daily grind with their nearest and dearest
The Bellachroy, Isle of Mull
As we left the ferry and arrived on the Isle of Mull we could tell that this was going to be a great place to explore. Driving from the ferry terminal to the Bellachroy, the isle offered breath-taking views at every turn.
On arrival at the Bellachroy we were directed to the restaurant to book in and were greeted by one of the owners, Christine. Christine instantly made us all feel welcome with her warm smile and friendly personality as she showed us around the hotel and to our rooms. The Bellachroy is the oldest inn on the Isle of Mull but the hotel has a nice blend of modern and traditional style – the bedrooms were comfortable, well equipped and the views were incredible. Christine was very informative and gave us ideas on how to spend our time on the isle – the kids loved visiting Tobermory, (the setting for the programme Balamory), Duart Castle is also worth a visit and there are many more places of interest as outlined in the welcome booklet, while the reception area is filled with information leaflets on things to do.
We had dinner in the hotel restaurant which had a relaxing atmosphere with attentive staff, and met Anthony (Christine’s husband) who also welcomed us and made us feel extremely comfortable. The menu focuses on fresh, locally sourced produce and there’s a good mix of traditional family favourites and luxurious seafood. The kid’s menu also had a good selection. The food was well prepared and full of flavour – the kids’ favourite was the homemade ice-cream, which they said was the best they had ever tasted. Nothing was too much trouble for the staff and they even prepared a small cheese board for my son as he wanted to taste the local Isle of Mull Cheddar which is produced a few miles from the hotel. Breakfast was served in the restaurant by Christine with a cooked breakfast made to order for each person – very helpful with some fussy kids in our party. On top of the cooked breakfast there was a good selection of cereals and fruit juices.
Leaving after breakfast, we only wished that we could have stayed longer at the Bellachroy. Christine and Anthony made it feel like a home from home.
Prices from £40 per person per night.
Taynuilt Hotel, Taynuilt Reviewed by the O’May family from Kippen
What a find the Taynuilt Hotel is! We were greeted warmly by manager David, who showed us to our topfloor rooms. Charm and quaintness surrounded us in the traditional, comfortable and cosy coaching inn.
The evening meal was an absolute delight, and the children’s dishes were equally appetising. The staff were charming and friendly, and made us all feel very welcome. Breakfast was equally delicious.
The Taynuilt Hotel also boasts The Drammery, an Aladdin’s Cave stocking a selection of craft beers, single malts, gin, rum, vodka and fine wine. It is definitely worth the journey. One thing is for sure, you can’t beat that west coast hospitality. Prices from £150 per room per night based on two sharing
Fountain Court Apartments, Edinburgh Reviewed by the Reynolds family from Blair Drummond
On arrival we were pleasantly greeted and shown to our three-bed apartment. The girls had great fun investigating and were well pleased when they spotted the wii game system. The bus stop for access to Edinburgh city centre was two minutes from the apartments and Fountain Court has teamed up with local restaurants and tourist attractions to offer substantial discounts. Breakfast was fresh fruit, cereals, yoghurts and crusty bread. They had even had included Nutella for the kids! The apartment was very modern and with the added perks of free wifi and games made it a good base for our city break. Prices from £125 per night for a two-bed apartment.