Recommend me your best 'hidden Scotland' things to do!?

[Glitterkitten24]

Hello all,

Looking for some ideas from fellow Scots/ those with good knowledge of Scotland!

We are holidaying in a campervan in Scotland this year- We've done it before and actually it's a thoroughly enjoyable holiday to have with a toddler! (Much to my surprise!)

We are a bit of an outdoorsy family, enjoy geocaching, walks, nature etc but also love seeing 'the sights' like castles, attractions etc.

I've been on all the websites researching where we want to visit on our trip and have all the usual suspects listed.
I'm looking for your recommendations of interesting/ special things to do or see which are not in all the guide books.

Please let me have any ideas you have- our route isn't confirmed yet so we can change it about to accommodate any particularly brilliant places that we hear about!

Thank you!

haha backward never thought of that :)

The user name comes from when I pregnant. I used to go through hundreds of them. I would buy two packs of 3 (they were always on bogof) I'd eat one, then I'd eat another, then I'd worry that DH would see that i'd eaten 2 so I'd eat the 3rd and hide the empty box.....then I worked out that as he didn't know I had two boxes in the first place, realistically I could eat another and he'd think i'd just had one.......no wonder DS1 was 9lb 13ox

Depending what you're planning on doing, I agree with a PP, Historic Scotland and / or NTS memberships can really be value for money. If you're hitting the north coast near Nairn or Inverness we really loved the new visitor centre at Culloden.

Findhorn bay on the Moray coast, near Forres/Elgin. Beautiful, bay with seals and dolphins and a shop selling Irn Bru ice cream!

Another vote for Fife.

The Fisheries museum in Anstruther does great lunches. The fish shop has amazing ice creams.

There's a fabulous chip shop in Crail and then next stop St Andrews

I can highly recommend an amazing B&B if you're looking for accommodation

Our kids also loved the beach at Roseisle near Elgin way. Lovely and tucked away. Has old WWII coastal defence stones there and imaginations ran riot. Nairn beach is also gorgeous. Loads along that coast

We stayed in Dornoch last year. The beaches are beautiful and a day at Dunrobin Castle is a must. There are lots of lovely walks and coffee shops in the surrounding towns/ villages. There's lots to do in Aviemore on your route North including a trip on the funicular railway up Cairngorm. Further South again, you could visit Scone Palace near Perth. There's also a large outdoor play park called Active Kids just outside Perth which is very popular. I could go on and on!

This visit a great thread , we came home from living abroad recently and realized we didn't know our own country. This has given me lots if ideas

Yy our kids loved Landmark park near Aviemore. Depends on your kids ages though. It's not particularly cheap. But you can easily spend the day there. And there are benches for picnicking if you want to do so.

Big queues to get in during school holidays. But book online the day before and you can walk to the front of the queue.

After you have been to Auntie Betty's in Stonehaven, visit Dunnotar Castle or the open air pool.

Ice cream has to be Luca's in Musselburgh.

Fochabers for ice cream, too. I think there might be money to be made out of this. Anyone fancy setting up a travel company with me?

You can do geocaching in Perthshire and lots of walks like the Cateran Trail. In Glenshee there is an eco camp with llama trekking. Nearby there is Bowland Trails who have husky dogs. This website looks quite good
www.visiteastperthshire.co.uk/

Highland Folk Museum is good for a few hours if you are passing - think it is free, cafe not great though.

If you like a walk then Castle Campbell in Dollar is interesting. Its also known as Castle Gloom and the two burns either side of it are the Burn of Care and the Burn of Sorrow.

www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index/places/propertyresults/propertyplan.htm?PropID=pl_058&PropName=Castle%20Campbell%20And%20Garden#getting

Iona, staffa and corrievreckan are amazing. If you have little kids corrievreckan might be a bit scary though. We did a boat tour a few years ago to all 3 in the same day and saw seals as well .

I love the beaches over at Gairloch and Inverewe gardens are beautiful.

There are deers to see at Torridon and nearby is Nannys which we love eating at, I hope it's still there.

Craster is on the Borders/Northumberland but they do great Kippers and seafood.

There is a brilliant gem museum near Wigtown which is a book lovers paradise and the beach at Rockcliffe is fabulous as is the coffee shop there.

There's a great play park and walks at Tomintoul. Lots of NTS castles on the way to Aberdeen.

There are

Cut myself off, was going to say there fun things to do as well like Kelburne castle and when we visit family my kids love the agricultural museum.

Oh and the little museum in Gairloch is good too and the museum of rural life at Pitlochry.

I love Scotland so much. It is a fabulous place to live.

Arbroath / Montrose / Broughty Ferry all have great kids playparks. Good beaches at them too.
In my opinion, St Cyrus beach at Montrose is better than Lunan - and has toilets! But Lunan has better sand dunes (bring a sledge).
Love the coastal walk along the cliffs at Arbroath (but can be a bit scary with a toddler). Also the sea safari boat trip from Arbroath is good fun.
Charleton Fruit Farm at Montrose - good café and kids playground - and pick your own fruit depending on season

Sea safari boat from Arbroath you say? Lived 15 mins from Arbroath for 20 years and never knew about it! Off to Google!

The road to Applecross is amazing!

www.applecross.uk.com

Anyone know the name of a big outdoor activity/ play area just outside of Perth?

Active Kids Adventure?

Noahs's Ark? Or there's Active Kids near Stanley?

Auchmithie is nice, just north of Arbroath. You can park at Victoria park, walk the coastal path to Auchmithie, have a lovely lunch at the but'n'ben restaurant and then get the bus back! Agree coastal path a bit hairy with wee kids though

Pretty much anywhere in Dumfries and Galloway. If you are into castles, Caerlaverock and Threave in D& G, Tantallon in the Lothian's and Stirling Castle are our favourites.
Elie in the East Neuk is one of my favourite places, lovely beach. Visit Crovie - a line of cottages clinging to a tiny strip of land on the North East coast.
The Falkirk Wheel and the Kelpies in Central Scotland?

Kilchurn Castle off the A85 at Loch Awe.
Monument Hill above Dalmally, also off A85, a stunning view for a fairly short walk.
Dumbarton Castle, a hidden gem in a not very touristy town, my DCs make us go there every year.