A family affair
Any parent will tell you that holidays are less stressful if the younger members of the family are having fun. So check out these family friendly breaks and win brownie points with the bairns
Bona Lighthouse, Loch Ness Reviewed by Tracey and Ryan Faulds from Edinburgh
Travelling from Edinburgh up to Inverness on a Saturday morning, we drove through scorching sun, sleet, hailstones and snow to arrive late afternoon at the beautiful Bona Lighthouse – situated at the entrance to Loch Dalfour, at the northern end of Loch Ness. It was at one time the smallest manned lighthouse in the UK.
Bona Lighthouse has now been refurbished into a beautiful cottage, while still retaining many of its original features. The stunning master bedroom upstairs, with ensuite bathroom, has a breathtaking view overlooking the loch. Our seven-year-old son loved watching the boats sailing up and down, whilst at the same time looking out for the Loch Ness monster!
Downstairs comprises a beautiful country style kitchen, lounge with wood burning fire and another double bedroom with two very comfortable single beds. The house is spectacular, everything is very plush and has been fitted out to a very high standard.
On Sunday morning, after a very pleasant evening, we left the lighthouse for a five-minute drive along the road, which takes you to the Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition, which is great fun for both children and adults – the hi-tech multi-media presentation takes you through seven themed areas and 500 million years of history, natural mystery and legend, revealing the unique environment of Loch Ness and the famous Nessie legend.
Following this, and after lunch in the nearby cafe, we headed along the road for a Jacobite Cruise on Loch Ness – a two-hour tour, departing from Dochgarroch Lock, where you hear about all the history of the loch, taking in the sights of Bona Lighthouse, Urquhart Castle and the crash site of a World War Two Wellington Bomber. Our son particularly enjoyed the cruise as he’d never been on a boat before – and, of course, he spent most of his time looking out the window for Nessie!
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Bona Lighthouse. Inverness is a beautiful part of the country – there’s plenty of activities for kids and it’s great to be able to take in some of the history. We’ll definitely be going back.
Prices from £85 per night
The Plockton Hotel, Plockton Reviewed by the Ferguson / Scratcherd family from Haddington
We arrived at the Plockton Hotel having experienced four seasons on the way up the road, and were very much looking forward to our holiday. On arrival, we were shown through to a small reception area by the friendly staff. There were a selection of books available, which had seen better days. As a family with a six-year-old and 13-year-old, we felt this area could have benefited from a bit of an update and a stock of more interesting books, activities and pictures. We were then shown to our room, which was large and comfortable, and had wifi connection to provide entertainment for the children.
We decided to opt for dinner in the bar area. It had a good lively atmosphere and was clearly popular. The service was excellent. The menu was extensive, offered a range of local seafood and other options. Our six-year-old opted for a cowboy burger, which looked decent and appeared to taste good. Our 13-year-old, commented that her salmon was very nice and ‘just how salmon should taste’. Dad had venison pie, which was stuffed full of succulent meat and was devoured in minutes. I had the fish platter. It was fantastic – fresh with a good range of fish and sauces. The meal was excellent value for money and could compete with, if not better, many high-end fish restaurants. Pudding did not disappoint either. A particular favourite was the dark chocolate tart, which was homemade, light and sweet. Breakfast was good, offering a range of healthier options rather than just the usual cooked breakfast. In summary, a rewarding culinary experience!
Plockton is a vibrant community with some interesting nooks and crannies and a developing arts and crafts community – watch out for Jane McKenna a local artist. The Plockton Hotel is situated on the waterfront and provides a great base to explore, walk or cycle around this area.
Prices from £90 per room per night