Banchory & Aberdeen - things to do with 2.5 yo

[MrsKitty]

We're staying at a lodge in Banchory with trips to visit my Grandad in Aberdeen this July...

Looking for inspiration on places to go to entertain my DS (2.5 yo) and also child friendly places to eat

(Also - I'll be 6 mths pregnant at the time so nothing too energetic)

Thanks

Storybook glen would be a hit with 2.5 yo

www.storybookglenaberdeen.co.uk/

At banchory there is crathes castle which has a good swing park.

Also at aberdeen beach there is a funfair
and lots of child friendly places to eat -

www.codonas.com/

If you travel 20 mins south of aberdeen (same sort of time away from banchory) to Stonehaven there is an open air swimming pool www.stonehavenopenairpool.co.uk/Pool-Intro.htm and the harbour is very pretty.

Thanks Wendy - used to go to Aberdeen every year when I was a kid but don' remember doing anything other than drinking pop at my grandma's flat!

Storybook Glen sounds like a plan - was always jealous of my cousin who seemed to go there all the time!

Am sure I remember a place which kept lots of ponies & horses - out towards Cove maybe - is that still there?

Anyone else with recommendations of places to eat? (obviously most important part of holiday ) all ideas gratefully received!

We live about half an hour from Banchory, I would second going to Crathes Castle lovely walks etc and nice place for a picnic, there is a coffee shop if the weather isn't great. There is also an indoor play centre called Soft Bear Play Centre, which is on the outskirts of Banchory web address = www.softbearplaycentre.com it has a big indoor play area etc you can get food as well it can get very busy though, would recommend getting there early. Down at Aberdeen beach (codonas) there is a place called Rambo Land it is again indoors it has a small ball pit etc for the younger children and there is a pizza hut, frankie and benny's etc to eat also the cinema complex is there. Not far from the beach there is a place called Satrosphere webwww.satrosphere.net, it is a hands on science type place again indoors. I hope that you get good weather it would be fun to play on the beach with bucket and spades if weather nice. enjoy