Days Out recommendations - Central Belt, 12 & 14yo

[LtGreggs]

Can I ask for some days out recommendations - we are nearish Stirling so can readily reach down to Glasgow, Edinburgh or up past Perth.

We're good at doing outdoor walking & cycling stuff, so looking for a few alternatives to that?

What are your honest opinions on these that we've never done:

• Jupiter Artland?
• Secret Bunker?
• Whitelees Windfarm?

We did Jupiter Artland last summer. I was pretty sceptical but we really liked it (similar age DC). The Bridge Inn isn't too far away to tie in with lunch or tea. Have you been to Inchcolm Island?

Jupiter art land and secret bunker fab for that age

Also
Cairnie Fruit farm
Maid of the Forth
Edinburgh Climbing arena
Fox lake

Was just coming to say www.foxlake.co.uk/ but see it's been recommended already.

Karting out at Knockhill
Go to Cramond and time it to head over to the island?

Jupiter Artland is nice
Lochore Meadows
Scottish Deer Centre
walk round Loch Leven - it's about 12 miles but flat and the lure of cake at the Larder cafe should get them round! You could probably cycle it too.
Bridge8 kayaking or stand up paddle boarding.
Falkirk Wheel and cycle down to the Kelpies.
Snow tubing or dry slope skiing at Hillend.
Alpaca experience bobcat-alpacas.co.uk/index.php/activities/trekking
Go Ape at Aberfoyle

Thanks! A few of these we have done, a few I have never heard of so am googling.

Maid of the Forth with Inchcolm I did not know of, but sounds good.

Check groupon for Maid of the Forth tickets, ditto Scottish deer centre, they’re both often on.

Go Ape is opening at Dalkeith Country Park in July.

Aquadash at the commie pool in Edinburgh www.edinburghleisure.co.uk/aquadash
Frisbee "golf" at Swanston golf club swanston.co.uk/discgolf-come-swanston-farm/

Similar ages kids
kids
-Jupiter artland is huge family favourite and we go every year for the whole day
-we thought secret bunker was awful but I know lots of people love it. Ours thought "too much reading"
-whitelee great on bikes

Jupiter Artland sounds a definite then.

Frisbee Golf followed by IKEA also a potential day

Driftwood adventures at Cramond.

I- moto X in Glasgow.

Lots to do in Playsport in East Kilbride.

Nae Limits up at Pitlochry is amazing.

Wouldn’t bother with Secret Bunker.

Fox lake, karting at Renfrew.

Whitaker’s and Cathkin braes for mountain bikes..: or that place in the borders… Glentress?

Largs, boat to cumbrae, cycle round, have chips, ice cream at Nardinis.

Lomond Shoes has lots going on

We are heading to Scotland soon. Any ideas where to go? It’s so enormous and everyone says, ‘midgies’! But it looks so beautiful. Have teens too, who hate the country..so may be a challenge!

If teens hate the countryside then go to Edinburgh. Mainly midge free too, they tend to be worse in the west

We don't really have midges on the east coast so head there. Lots in Edinburgh and a new go ape opening in Dalkeith country park, also ninja warrior in Edinburgh which is a fun indoors activity for those who don't like country side - much like the tv series. Water sports at the new st James centre (only half joking 😆)

Thanks! Edinburgh is a gorgeous place. Ninja warrior sounds fun.

Also...anyone know of a nice hotel 0r place to stay about 2 hours from Edinburgh? ( in any direction) It’s with teens so doesn’t need to be super posh, but nice enough for us all to recharge.
Don’t know where to start! Tho have my eye on Erickson hotel or castle stobo, obviously only in my dreams sigh.😏

I'd say just hop on to booking.com. You can put in all your requirements and it has so many properties of all standards. Mercure and best western have some nice hotels with pools at decent prices. Pitlochry Hydro often has good deals and Pitlochry is a lovely base for exploring in all directions and is under 2h from Edinburgh

Premier inns are usually good value but not necessarily in the prettiest of locations. You could consider Stirling as that is then handy for all the cities and countryside. Pitlochry a good call and also maybe Peebles to the south or somewhere in Fife?

Crieff Hydro or Peebles Hydro? To be honest though, if you want to visit Edinburgh you’re as well doing a few nights in a premier inn in the city centre and then some time in the countryside.

Holiday inn in the centre of edinburgh

For my boys, a hotel with a pool and/or an all-you-can-eat buffet breakfast is popular.

I don't know the Edinburgh hotels well, but Premier Inns a good bet (pre covid at least). Crieff or Dunblane Hydro. Gleneagles is lovely 😁 Or, Stirling Highland has a pool and is about 1 min walk from the Castle and the Ghost Walk.

The premier inn in Stirling (the city centre one) is in the new bit with the vue and nandos etc in it, not far from the sports centre and walkable into the town centre is also another option. Also handy for the train which will take you to Edinburgh or Glasgow or further north and beyond. The Stirling highland is lovely and has a pool and is up near the castle and some nice restaurants etc but it's a steep hill to walk up with tired legs

Also plenty to do in Aviemore area but that is a bit further from the central belt and a lot of the things to do are outdoor activities.

and oh yes, the all you can eat buffet - Hilton hotels used to be best for this. Not sure if anyone doing buffets now. Stayed in a Holiday Inn express a few months ago which used to do a small buffet but covid restrictions meant it was a selection from a menu of a filled roll and a drink