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Original poster

Scottish Mums/Dads. Ideas for days out and things to do with DC please.

96 replies

MorocconOil · 20/03/2008 16:16

We're sooooooo excited. We've just booked a motorhome for the middle two weeks of August to tour Scotland. We are planning a round trip but at the moment have no plans about where to go.

I thought we could plan it around any recommendations of great days out, campsites, beaches and things to see and do.

The DC are 8,6 and 3 and very active.

I would love any recommendations from MNetters.

OP posts:
haggisaggis · 20/03/2008 16:26

Highly recommend "Landmark" at Carrbridge near AViemore. THink it is quite pricey to get in but it has a fantastic wooden walkway into the trees with red squirrels at the end, as well as a great playpark, climbing wall and a sort of rollercoaster thing where you sit in little boats and go down a slide. Even the 3 year old can do that and it'll really tire them out!
There's a lot round STirling - castle, Stirling Jail (although my 5 year old found that a bit scary) safari park (again pricey to get in but good value) and I thoroughly recommend Broadlands Farm near the safari park - it has a maize maze as well as bouncy pillow things to jump on, straw bales to climb on, go carts to pedal and a good cafe.
St Andrews is great - beach obviously but yet another great park (Craigtoun) close by - you pay at the gate and after that it's all included(bouncy castles, playparks, little train, mini golf, boats etc)
Is that enough for now?!

nailpolish · 20/03/2008 16:28

craigton park is excellent

the secret bunker in fife is good too

and of course edinburgh is chocca full of stuff to do

the castle
museum
meadows park
dynamic earth

nailpolish · 20/03/2008 16:30

and the edinburgh festival of course

Original poster
MorocconOil · 20/03/2008 20:08

I'd love to see St Andrews so I'm glad there are things for children to do.

I think we'll definitely go to Edinburgh, but thought it maybe a nightmare during the festival. When is that BTW? I remember visiting the castle when I was 7 and thought it was top, so I'd really like to take them there.

Is the secret bunker some cold war remnant?

Anyone know of any rural castles? Castles are a hit ATM.

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rookiemater · 20/03/2008 21:10

We have been to the secret bunker, its basically a bunker that was there in case of nuclear war. I found it a bit freaky and the canteen was disgusting, but if your children are boys and are into that sort of thing they may find it interesting.

OOh just thought of somewhere nice. Traquair House outside of Peebles is good fun, they have a fair on the 2nd & 3rd of Aug. Its the oldest house in Scotland or something like that, I get bored during the inside bit. But they have a maze and some horses and loads of grounds. Plus just outside Peebles which is worth a day trip.

singyswife · 20/03/2008 21:13

Dalkeith Park is excellent, good walks, brilliant park, picnic places. Also East Links Family Park in Dumbar is probably one of our favourite places to go, it is excellent.

singyswife · 20/03/2008 21:13

East links has a website if you want to look it up

rookiemater · 20/03/2008 21:15

Agree East Links is absolutely fab.

Vogrie Country Park is also worth a day trip, particularly on a Sunday when they have small trains on.

Oh and you may be up when Bo'ness and Kinneal railway have a Thomas the Tank Engine Day. Apparently they are fab.

singyswife · 20/03/2008 21:18

Yes, Vogrie Park is good too. Boness and Kinneil Railway is also Fab./ They also have a website. They do a fantastic Halloween ride although you will be too early for that. Dont know why I mentioned it really

rookiemater · 20/03/2008 21:24

Helpful for me to know about it though singyswife !

Original poster
MorocconOil · 20/03/2008 21:36

Thanks rookie and singy. Will look up East Links.

Any ideas for (dare I say it) wet, cold summer days?

OP posts:
Original poster
MorocconOil · 20/03/2008 21:40

The DSs and DH will love the secret bunker. We visited bunkers last year in France, and they used up 2 disposable cameras taking some interesting but dark photos of them. TBH the freakier, the better for them.

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frasersmummy · 20/03/2008 21:41

I have to agree that east links animal park should definatly be on your to do list..

On a similiar theme Edinburgh zoo is worth a visit

If you are in the glasgow area, then the glasgow science centre is a great day out for all ages.. quite expensive but worth it..they have so much to see and do .. they have their own website.

There is a lovely beach at Dornoch.

Hope this helps

singyswife · 20/03/2008 21:42

The Time Capsule in Coatbridge is good for a whole day. Has Ice Skating and Swimming with great flumes and slides etc. Also there are loads of soft play areas in the Edinburgh area. Will think about it and let you know what I come up with.

singyswife · 20/03/2008 21:43

Oooh yeah, Glasgow Science Centre is great for a wet day. Expensive but sooo worth it. They have a website also.

rookiemater · 20/03/2008 21:43

Chambers Street museum in Edinburgh is a great day out, with a robot section and fish to look at. Make sure you eat in the soup restaurant though, about half the price of the main cafe.

If the weathers rotten then the Secret Bunker might be worth it, at least its all inside.

Dynamic earth is inside and is a fun day out although our friends daughter was a bit scared when we went, she was 3 at the time.

There is the Museum of Childhood on the Royal Mile but I haven't taken DS there yet.

Original poster
MorocconOil · 20/03/2008 21:44

Oh I think we went to Dornoch beach as children. Are there lots of campsites there?

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dizzychixies · 20/03/2008 21:56

dundee science centre if you're this far north and cairnie fruit farm is brilliant
has a mega maze and tonnes of trampolines/hay bales/ tractors/go carts etc - lovely strawberry picking and home baking in tea room too - near to cupar

cairnie fruit farm

dundee science centre

Original poster
MorocconOil · 20/03/2008 22:04

Wow. This is great. We could write a guide for holidaying in Scotland with children, with all this information.

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dizzychixies · 20/03/2008 22:09

there is a great place at stanley too, just north of perth called active kids

they used to just sell all the gear but now they've built a big area with forts, zip slides, go carts, trampolines etc

here gives you an idea

dizzychixies · 20/03/2008 22:11

was going to suggest 'go ape' too but its age restriction is 10yrs so no use yet sorry

dizzychixies · 20/03/2008 22:15

do they like balamory, you could always take them on the boat from oban to mull for the day to see it - its expensive with a car but we did it just on the boat and bus - oban is nice too

be warned though, none of the sodding houses are near to each other and they're up steep hills - doesn't show you that on the sodding programme lol

Original poster
MorocconOil · 20/03/2008 22:17

The DC will love the place at Stanley dizzy.

Just a question about midges. Is there anywhere they are more prevalent and can they be avoided? When I've said we're going to Scotland people have said 'oh, watch out for the midges'

OP posts:
Original poster
MorocconOil · 20/03/2008 22:19

DD likes Balamory a bit. I've heard Mull has stunning beaches so we may go there anyway.

OP posts:
dizzychixies · 20/03/2008 22:22

no am afraid not! wouldn't let it put you off though, they never bother us!! avon do a moisturising cream that it brilliant for midges, will try to find out the name if its something you think will be bothered by!

do you have an idea of what route you're going?

st andrews beach and tentsmuir beach are lovely too - both north fife