Things to do in centralish scotland?

[scrappydappydoo]

I've never been to scotland beforebut we've just booked a week in one of the forestry commission cabins near Callander at the end of April...
Can anyone suggest some good things to do - we have 3yr old and a 1yr old. Thanks

[uberalice]

Falkirk Wheel
Bo-ness and Kinneil Railway

[fatjac]

Callander itself is worth a visit. Aberfoyle is near and has a sheep/heritage centre. There is also a really good tourist information office there with a small indoor play area. The David Marshall Lodge just outside Aberfoyle is great.

You can hire bikes and trailers and go round Loch Katrine or go for a sail on the Sir Walter Scott. Loch Lomond is near, stop at Luss for a wander round. There is an Aquarium and nature place at Loch Lomond Shores. You will also find some shops including Jenners.

Blair Drummond Safari Park is fab. Next door is a farm yard type place where kids can climb on haystacks and ride on tractors.

Stirling Castle and Wallaces monument may be of interest to the 3 year old.

[ja9]

(the farm yard type place fatjac refers to doesn't open until mid-may)

[geordieminx]

second blair drummond - tis fab.

They sometimes have Thomas days at Bo'ness railway.

Falkirk wheel is nice too.

Loch Lomond shores is nice, boats, shops, soft play, aquarium (expensive)

[ScottishBoris]

Oooh I was just there last weekend. Callendar is nice for a mooch around the shops (fab chippie) and there's a great playpark and short walk for the kids.

Aberfoyle is nice too and there's small (very small) kiddie play bit in the visitor centre which my two played in for about an hour (I was v. v. bored towards the end)and a little playpark round the corner. Also, we went to the wollen mill shop which had some fab kids clothes and a wild bird display outside. Watch out for deer on the roads though!

I third Blair Drummond, a great day out if the weather is nice, you could spend an entire day there, or nip into Stirling for a look round the castle and shops in the city centre.

Falkirk Wheel is good too, with another good kid's playpark at Callendar park and leisure pools in Camelon and Grangemouth which also has another playpark. (Can you tell I know this part of the country very well, grew up there!?).

As you're in Central Scotland, if you've got a car or feel like jumping on a train, I would also go into Edinburgh for the day - go to the zoo, Chambers Street Museum, Museum of Childhood, Castle etc.

We also went to some of the beaches, which are lovely, but mibbe a bit cold at this time of year.

Hope this helps,
SB