As a travel writer I’ve had the chance to whisk my two daughters off to over 20 countries. But hand on tartan heart none are up there with Scotland for a brilliant family holiday. We love spending time together in Scotland – whether it’s rambling around a craggy castle or taking the ‘Hogwarts Express’, exploring the world-class capital city or staying at our favourite family-friendly hotel on the planet. Join us now as we share ten reasons Scotland is perfect for a family holiday.
- Cool Capital for Kids – My home of Edinburgh – surely the UK’s most handsome city – is massive fun for kids. After all, Edinburgh inspired J.K Rowling to create Harry Potter and many of the books were written right here. It’s impossibly fairytale-esque, capturing wee hearts as soon as they spy the castle brooding on an old volcano above. Ramble the wee ones carefully up Arthur’s Seat for a view of it all – they will definitely eat all their dinner and sleep well after. Edinburgh is a seriously spooky city – you can imagine wizards and demons easily in the cobbled streets. Get all spooked on a Ghost Tour, where you’ll delve into graveyards, ghosts and ghouls in the UNESCO World Heritage listed Old Town. You can even seek Lord Voldemort’s ‘grave’…Or literally delve below the city at the Real Mary King’s Close, a visitor attraction that opens up the sinister 17th-century history of this fascinating city. There are plenty of parks too for wee ones to fly around and enjoy themselves.
- Stirring Stirling – The hills, rivers and glens here are the stuff of legend. This is the heartland of Scotland, the old battlefields where Scotland’s story was fought over and writ large. Stand atop striking Stirling Castle and you can take it all in, the land of William Wallace, whose life the Hollywood film Braveheart was dedicated to. The castle is superb for kids with lots of hands-on exhibits, audio-visual trickery and the chance to dress up in historical costumes. Don’t miss the 3D experience at the modern visitor centre at Bannockburn. Here you get the chance to relive the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, an epochal battle that secured Scotland its independence. Very much geared towards letting kids have fun and learn.
- Monster magic – You’ve heard of Nessie, right? Possibly the world’s most famous monster lurks beneath the depths of Loch Ness. And what depths they are – if you took all the water from all the lakes in England and Wales it still would not fill Loch Ness! And Loch Ness is still not Scotland’s deepest loch. That honour goes to Loch Morar out west, which is home, of course, to another monster – Nessie’s lesser-known sister Morag. Don’t miss the chance to head out monster spotting on a boat tour on Loch Ness. And don’t forget your camera just in case. My kids love peering out letting their imaginations run riot here looking for a real life monster.
- Magic – Scotland abounds with magic. Harry Potter surfaces again in the Highlands at the Glenfinnan Viaduct. This is the 21-arch viaduct that the Hogwarts Express famously curls around in a waft of steam in the Harry Potter films. Fairies are everywhere in Scotland too, most famously at the Fairy Pools on Skye, where you can take a dip too. In autumn and winter the magic is in the skies with the Northern Lights. Scotland is also a superb stargazing destination on darker nights – what better to accompany a bedtime story than twinkling stars?
- Castles better than Disney – Scotland’s myriad castles are more dreamy and kid smile inducing than anything Disney can conjure up. One of the most appealing of all is Eilean Donan Castle in the Highlands. This graceful fortress reclines across a wee stone bridge where sea lochs meet and rugged mountains glower across the horizon. There is a great shop and café too, and it is a class place for a photo. In fact if you’re looking for a photo that sums up how great your trip has been this is an ideal spot.
- UK’s Largest National Park – The Cairngorms National Park is a scenic wonderland alive with flora and fauna. You don’t need a theme park: this is much better for children’s physical and mental health with lashings of clean, fresh air and plenty of space to run around. Gawp at Britain’s tallest mountain range and one Scotland’s few surviving tracts of indigenous Caledonian Forest. Hike, bike, enjoy watersports or just watch the world – and the wildlife – go by. Kids love the cute bushy-tailed red squirrels, the soaring ospreys and the mighty red deer, the UK’s largest land mammal; not to mention Scotland’s only herd of wild reindeer.
- Wonderful Wildlife – Scotland is world-class for wildlife. Kids can tick off its very own ‘Big Five’ – red deer, red squirrels, otters, common seals and golden eagles. Then there are even bigger sea eagles and all manner of marine mammals. We’re talking everything from porpoises and dolphins, through to basking sharks and whales – everything from minke whales to killer whales. The isles – over 800 of them – and the best place for whalewatching trips. Don’t forget the wild salmon, who make their inspirational pilgrimages from the ocean back up the rocky rivers to the pools where they were born. Children are captivated by Pitlochry’s salmon ladder. In autumn, the breeding season, hulking salmon leap from man-made pool to pool to bypass the dam. It’s worth visiting year-round just to hear their remarkable story.
- Glorious Glencoe – One of Scotland’s most famous, historic and scenic glens is a stunner whatever your age. Weave the kids in the car a tall story as you descend from Rannoch Moor into this craggy otherworld – this looks like the land of dragons and monsters; Bond films too, which have been shot here. It’s a vivid place for telling older children about some of the tragedies of Scotland’s past, including the Massacre of Glencoe. All of the walking beyond the car parks is for older, well-equipped and experienced families. A short option is a steep and careful push up to the ‘Hidden Valley’ where Rob Roy’s castle raiders used to hide their prize.
- Wild West Coast – Get in and amongst the bays, coves and beaches that fringe the Atlantic on this mind-blowing coastline. Scotland has over 10% of Europe’s coastline and to many Scots the West is simply the best. It’s great fun for families to explore too – you can just mess about on the beach, or take a life-affirming stroll. More active families can get stuck in sea kayaking, gorge scrambling, windsurfing and surfing.
- Great Gleneagles – Families don’t always agree on everything, but the McKelvies are unanimous when it comes to Gleneagles. This five star resort oasis in rural Perthshire is our favourite place to stay in Scotland. They really get it here, from proper food for kids in all of the myriad restaurants, to a warm welcome for wee ones at check in. The activities are spot on too. We’re talking croquet on the lawn and pitch and putt for everyone at this famous golf hotel. Then on to falconry, mini-Land Rover rides and gun dog training where children get to actually work with the dogs tackling a course.
*This post comes in conjunction with travel website Original Travel. You can enjoy many of the family-friendly highlights flagged up here in their 10-night ‘Family Friendly Scotland’ holiday. Ordinary Travel are very flexible so can weave in whatever you want to do.
