Moray.

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Hi.
We're coming to Huntly for a few days. I was just wandering if anyone has any recommendations on what to do with a 9 and 10 year old. I'm thinking drive to Cullen for the beach. Maybe Buckie although we've done the aquarium there and it was small so we weren't there long. Done Aden park before. We only live an hour away anyway. Driving is ok

That beach looks lovely! We'll go there weather depending. We've done tubing in Aberdeen although could do it again if the weather isn't great.

Ace Adventures on the Logie estate do all sorts of adventurey things- family rafting, high wires , stuff like that. It's a great part of the world for outdoorsy stuff.

A few ideas from our family holidays in Moray: Hopeman beach, Logie Steading, Lossiemouth East Beach (they've just opened a new footbridge), walk in Lossie forest, Millbuies, climb Ben Aigan or Ben Rinnes, eat at the cafe at Johnston's cashmere shop in Elgin, swim or picnic at Dulsie Bridge....

Roseisle beach is my favourite. Just along from that is a heritage centre in Burghead, which is next to a Pictish Fort. In Elgin, there's a motor museum, and also Elgin museum (that one's free
as is the one in Forres). In the centre is Cooper Park where they can play in the play park, skate park, take a ball of choice, or feed the ducks. We sometimes go rockpooling at Hopeman, or even take body boards. There's also an ice rink in Elgin Leisure Centre as well as swimming pool. Fochabers has an ice cream parlour. I think Lossiemouth does too. Perhaps try your own ice cream trail? There are also plenty of walks everywhere and lots of historical sites, depending what you're all interested in. There are also mountain bike trails if you have bikes with you. They may also enjoy the Pop Shop in Elgin. It's a small shop but sells pop figurines, board games, plush toys, warhammer bits etc.

MacDuff Aquarium is good. About 40 mins from Huntly. Check the website for any special events. The Dolphin fish & chip shop just along the road is lovely & you can use the aquarium picnic tables to eat at.

Dean's shortbread factory in Huntly for lunch. Nice cafe/restaurant with a viewing gallery so you can see the shortbread being made.

Take a picnic to Huntly's Deveron park by the river. Playpark & Nordic ski centre close by.
Asda is usually better stocked than Tesco.

Portsoy, about 40 mins drive. Pretty, lovely ice cream shop on the main street & nice little beach.

Collieston. Pretty little village, nice little bay & beach. Aporox 45 mins.

Speyside whale & dolphin centre about 50 mins drive. Well worth a visit. You often see seals as well.

If you want to make a day of it there is a lighthouse & museum near Fraserburgh. It's about 90 mins drive from Huntly. Often done as a school trip as quite educational.

Falconry Centre about 20 mins from Huntly. Highly recommend this. Lovely birds. Flying displays & you get the chance to join in. Staff really passionate & knowledgeable. Small cafe as well.

Portsoy for the ice cream and wee harbour. Gem museum is still there i think?

Sandend beach is gorgeous, a few miles west from Portsoy. Has many concrete anti tank blocks that we used to try and jump across.

The deveron play park down beside the castle is good, you can paddle in the river too - if it’s warm enough! It’s right beside the Nordic ski centre too so could probably spend a whole morning or afternoon there if you bring along a picnic! There is a swimming pool in Huntly and lastly the bank restaurant does a really good Sunday lunch if that’s your thing!

Cullen is a nice place with a superb ice cream shop. There's a nice coastal path from there to Portknockie where you can see the Bowfiddle rock which is quite unusual. If you drive along the coast there are usually loads of seals on the Craigenroan rock at Strathlene between Fincochty and Portessie. If you drive through Buckie (nothing to recommend it), along the coast to Portgordon there are often dolphins to be seen and more seals beside the old ice house on the beach.