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!
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).
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