Great Family Holidays in Scotland

With a big thanks to Ovie let's round the family and head to the Highlands! In this guest post Ovie shares with us Scotland's main attractions and sometimes "hidden" quality destinations.

Scotland is one of the most underrated holiday destinations in Europe. All who get to visit this scenic country are blown-away by its history, culture and breath-taking topography. There’s something for everyone. Scotland has great campsites and mountains for adventure holidays, cottages which are great for short-breaks and family holidays and fantastic family entertainment to keep children and adults captivated.


Scotland is such a hidden gem that very few people are aware of the fact that this beautiful country which shares borders with Great Britain has 790 islands (such as the Northern Isles and the Hebrides). Most of these are connected to the mainland by car and passenger ferries, or bridges, so while public transport in Scotland is limited, it’s easy (as well as breath-taking) to take your car or hire a car at Glasgow or Edinburgh Airport.

Scotland has remained one of Europe’s top destinations for family holidays and deservedly so. Whether you're looking for golden sandy beaches, wonderful woodlands or majestic mountain scenery, Scotland has it all. Some of the popular family attractions Scotland has to offer include:


The Edinburgh Festival Fringe - ‘Edinburgh’ is the largest art festival in the world and takes places every August for three weeks, although even a few days can be a memorable part of any family holiday in Scotland. As the name suggests, it is held in Edinburgh and thousands of performers take to a multitude of stages all over the capital city to present a wide variety of shows. Theatre, opera, musicals, exhibitions, music, dance, comedy and other kinds of events ensure that there is something to everyone entertained regardless of your artistic preference. There are also loads of kids’ events, including theatre, storytelling and magic shows, plus hundreds of jugglers, stilt-walkers and buskers that we challenge your kids not to be intrigued by (and they’re free). Staying true to the history of the festival, anyone who wants to perform and can find a venue to host them is included in the festival’s programme. So should you feel like putting on a performance of your own, you are welcomed to sign-up. Find out more about the festival and get tickets at www.edfringe.com.

Blair Drummond Safari & Adventure Park/Edinburgh Zoo - Located in Stirling, this is one of the most fun and exciting family days out in Scotland. Witness the wildlife reserves and adventure playgrounds. Take a boat trip around the chimp island and experience the wonderful sea lion show. It doesn’t get more exciting than witnessing nature’s great creatures. Bears, lions, tigers, bison, elephants, rhinos, zebras, giraffes and camels are just a few of the interesting and exotic animals which are sure to make this a memorable holiday experience for every member of the family. If the Blair Drummond Safari & Adventure Park leaves you yearning for more, with over 1,000 rare and endangered animals, the Edinburgh Zoo has much more to offer. Find out more at www.blairdrummond.com.

Durness beach/Pease Bay - One of the main attractions often overlooked when thinking of Scotland as a family holiday destination are its wonderful beaches. Admittedly, you should not expect warm waters, but there are beautiful sandy stretches and wildlife to entertain kids on short walks and picnics. Of these, Durness beach, popularly referred to by locals as the ‘Secret Beach’ was bestowed as Britain’s most beautiful beach by The Guardian in 2009. Despite that, it remains a beach that few know about and even fewer are willing to tell you about. To get to there, head due east from Smoo Cave Hotel in eastern Durness until you reach the cliffs, and then follow them south to the beach. It's less than a mile. With toffee-coloured rocks and smooth desert-like sand, this beach provides a private beach experience (perfect for families) due to the secrecy surrounding its location. For those who prefer a more active beach experience, Pease Bay one of the most popular beaches. Its long sandy beach is ideal for chilling out and the people and atmosphere is usually top-notch.



Chanonry Point/Fort George - Chanonry Point is one of the most popular on-shore locations in Scotland for viewing Dolphins. No camera or binoculars are necessary as the dolphins can be seen from close quarters as they fish and play just off Chanonry Point. Visitors also have the opportunity to visit Chanonry Point and Fort George (an 18th century Fortress with one of the mightiest artillery fortifications in Europe which open to visitors and remains unaltered and in continuous use).

The People’s Palace - The People’s Palace is a historic palace which tells the story of Glasgow through a vast collection of historic artefacts, paintings, prints, photographs, films and interactive computer displays, providing an educational as well as an interesting and engaging experience for the whole family. This attraction will provide everyone with great insight into how Glaswegian society has evolved over the years. Visitors are also welcomes to wader among the exotic winter gardens.


Castles - Scotland is famous for its many castles, scattered across the country, and they remain some of the country’s main family attractions. Adults can enjoy the architecture and the insightful guided tours, while kids enjoy the high walkways, passages and the fantasy of knights in shining armours and princesses. There are quite a few to choose from, some of the best including Stirling Castle, Dunrobin Castle, Kelburn Castle and Cawdor Castle.

Most visitors to Scotland arrive in one of its four international airport; Edinburgh, Glasgow, Glasgow Prestwick and Aberdeen. Unless you are staying in one or two of the main cities, public transport is limited and limiting. Visitors can pre-book car hire from their destination airport for the duration of their holiday (try major car hire brands like www.budget.co.uk, for example). Even if the kids require more engaging forms of entertainment, the opportunity to spend some time driving through beautiful landscapes is an opportunity not to be missed.

As usual thanks to wikiMedia for the photos.