One of the best places in Scotland to holiday with kids, the Cairngorms is full of activities to keep little ones (or bigger little ones!) enthralled and immersed in its great outdoor playground…
Families flock here for fresh air and time outdoors together, but what is so special about the Park is that, while you’re never far from wilderness, you’re also never far from all the attractions and facilities you could ever need. The range of activities is vast, too, meaning you’ll have no problem entertaining any child, from your adrenaline-seeking teenager to your softplay-obsessed toddler!
Landmark Forest Adventure Park, Scotland’s favourite adventure park, proudly holds the TripAdvisor Peoples Choice Award 2024! Ready for an adventure like
Voted best on the water facility in Scotland, Loch Insh Outdoor centre is the perfect place for family adventure. Choose to
550 metre outdoor hire gokart track, running the world famous sodikarts – in the heart of the Cairngorms! Large
Speyside Wildlife has been running wildlife watching experiences within Scotland, the UK and overseas since 1991. Our experienced guides can
An immersive photography gallery celebrating mountain and wilderness photography from the Scottish Highlands and around the globe. Images are available for
Welcome to Cairngorm Alpacas, our family run farm with a twist. Fun experiences for all ages. We are more than just alpacas,
Aboyne Photographics offer a wide variety of professional photography services for all occasions. Specialising in wedding, portrait, landscape, commercial
Cairngorm Adventure Guides offer guided hillwalking for groups or individuals. We can tailor your visit to suit your experience level
Catriona provides Wedding, Elopement, Portrait and Commercial photography in Cairngorms National Park. Catriona lives in Cairngorms National Park, ideally placed to
Enjoy a night under the stars in the Cairngorms National Park, with a unique Wild Stargazing experience at Howe of
An outdoor sauna experience: a chance to indulge in some time for relaxation in our hand built Finnish sauna.
Kinrara Distillery is a Scottish craft gin producer set within the adventurous landscape of The Cairngorms, just outside the town
Fun Land based activities for anyone who doesn’t fancy getting wet! Archery lessons for budding Robin Hoods. Introductory lessons in Skiing and
Purpose built mountain bike centre with café and bike hire at the heart of Glenlivet Estate. A range of
High end patisseries, made with love in the Scottish Highlands! We also serve homemade quiches, sandwiches and salads along with
Calves & Coos: Behind the Scenes and Bottle-Feeding Join the Rangers for a behind the scenes tour at Rothiemurchus Farm ,
Within our bright and open new gift section we have specially selected items from scarves to sculptures, cards to confectionary
Whether it’s for business or pleasure, our exclusive first floor lounge provides an ideal space for a wide variety of
Exclusive Full Estate Tour with Laird Jamie Williamson – Discover the Heart of Alvie & Dalraddy’s 13,500 Acres Embark on a
A free all-abilities visitor opportunity if you are planning an Event, Performance or a Visit? The Panoramic Picnic Point is
We have a wide range of activities at Macdonald Aviemore Resort for all our guests. You’ll find lots to keep
Visit Cairngorm Mountain, one of the top attractions to visit in Aviemore and the surrounding area. There’s something for all
An exciting series of adventure ball runs is located in various locations at Cairngorm Mountain. Think marble runs but much
Blair Castle is nestled in the dramatic landscape of Highland Perthshire and has been home to 19 generations of Stewarts
Looking for something different to do in Aviemore? Aviemore Escape Rooms offers unique and fun challenges for friends or family. We
Wild Braemar creates personal, authentic experiences in the heart of the Cairngorms National park. Explore, discover and connect with nature
Unleash Your Inner Warrior at Clan Warfare Paintball! Perfect for Stag & Hen Parties: Gear up for an adrenaline-fuelled battle that
Discover Loch an Eileins Smugglers Sauna. Enjoy the rejuvenating combination of sauna heat and cold-water immersion. Located close to the shore
Cairngorm Mountain Bike Park is a newly purpose built activity opened in 2023 located a short drive from Aviemore at
Rothiemurchus Falconry offers two wonderful experiences, with something for everyone! Get up close and personal with the Falconry Experience, or
The Mountain Tubing Slides are great fun for families and one of our most popular things to do at Cairngorm
Macdonald Aviemore Resort features an on-site 650 capacity Sony 4K cinema featuring all the latest releases for everyone to enjoy.
Sharing our love of the outdoors is our passion and youth work is at our core. We continually witness the
The Speyside Centre is a family run Visitor Centre where visitors can enjoy the following ; A Restaurant
Aviemore Ice Rink Centrally located within the Macdonald Aviemore Resort, Aviemore Ice Rink offers plenty of fun for guests of all
17th Century Castle with an interesting history. Built in 1628 by the Earl of Mar as his Highland hunting lodge. Burned in
WALKS, WHISKY & WILDLIFE…… Walking, mountain biking, adventure playground, fishing, birdwatching, skiing – whatever the season, all the family
Little Landy’s at Rothiemurchus – let the kids take the driving seat and head off on an exciting off-road
The Cairngorm mountain railway unique to Scotland is now fully open. The railway takes customers up a scenic journey to
Not many!
We’d even wager that the Cairngorms National Park is the only place in the world you can do all these things.
You can meet dinosaurs at Landmark, choose from one of 55 Munros to hike, feed reindeer at the Cairngorm Reindeer Centre, see a tiger having tea at the Highland Wildlife Park, live like Royalty in Royal Deeside, kick back in a canoe at Loch Insh or Morlich watersports centres and step back in time at the Highland Folk Museum.
Phew! That is bound to wear wee legs out so they sleep well. And you will too!
That said, there’s also plenty to do with the family indoors. There’s soft play centres, for instance, at the Fun House Coylumbridge, as well as next to the swimming pool at Macdonald Aviemore Resort, which also has a cinema.
Or you could head to paint-your-own-pottery centre Crafty Capers, located on Dalfaber Industrial Estate in Aviemore.
Where to start…? There are so many! A firm favourite is Landmark Forest Adventure Park which is so popular because it will have something that appeals to every member of the family (including grannie and grandpa!). Other top choices include the Highland Folk Museum which brings history to life by recreating an entire village (complete with play park) that children will love running about (they also love the sweet shop!). Another perfect choice is the Highland Wildlife Park, a truly unique setting which captivates. Of course, one of the reasons families travel here is because they want to enjoy fresh air and exercise together so hiking and biking are often top of a holiday to-do list together.
Landmark Forest Adventure Park has all sorts of activities that appeal to differing ages of children, including younger ones with swings and slides for teeny tots. Similarly, the Highland Folk Museum also has a play park with equipment suited for younger children, as does the Highland Wildlife Park. If your tot is too little to cycle, then it’s possible to hire tag-alongs and trailers from local providers.
There are many family friendly walks in the Cairngorms, which is one of the reasons why so many families return to the area for their holidays. A walk around either Loch an Eilein or Loch Morlich provides a flat, easy 5k walk (which you can also cycle around). A slightly longer hike is from Glenmore Lodge up to the Green Lochan, also known as the ‘Faerie Loch’ (and kids love the story of why it is green; because the faeries wash their clothes there!). There are also plenty of lovely low, easy walks around Braemar such as the Linn of Dee circuit and the gentle walk up to Loch Callater. Browse the articles on this site as there is plenty of inspiration here!
If your teen is a thrill-seeker, there are many options including gorge walking, bungee jumping, white water rafting, high rope climbing and zip-wiring (browse the listings for details of providers).
Sign up to get notified of the latest deals, news and all the latest information direct to your inbox.