A Summerful of Scotland

A Summerful of Scotland

These are just a few of the places we chose to visit and explore this Summer in Scotland the list is endless and it really depends on what experience your after and what you wish to be doing. We love being outdoor and exploring. 

1.    Dark Sky Tomintoul is one, you can park for the night on the Glenlivet estate. It is just by the roadside however we have always found it to be really quiet. https://goo.gl/maps/PhcR912CwG5M32ie9  you can find the location. This is part of the International Dark Sky Park and has been since 2018 but it's been made even more unique by the new viewing platform that has been placed there. Lying back and looking at the stars is something quite special. It’s a whole learning experience for everyone in a truly stunning location. So, park up get those lights off and embrace a truly unique evening. 
 
2.    Cairngorm Mountain Resort – Here you can literally spend a full day of activities. They have new magic carpets for the bottom trails where the kids can develop and gain some confidence on. The funicular railway is back up and running, you can also take your bikes up but not E-Bikes. We visited the tubing activity which was for 30 minutes but the amount of goes the kids had been a brilliant activity and the staff made it really fun. You then gain free access to the new playpark which is brilliant and will keep the kids entertained and burning off some energy. We also completed the marble run which was fun as the kids had to answer questions in order to get their ball back so in turn learning new information. You get to keep the ball so you can use as many times as you wish. Theres a wonderful café too with a lovely selection of cakes, coffee and lunch. The parking is a bargain at £3 per day. There is a great motorhome pitch here or just a bit down the mountain that you can prebook online. Its lovely and quiet but be sure you have some smidge for the midges!!! 
 
3.    The Sender Bike Park is relatively new but it is a great set up. You can book a session to hire the area or go for a lesson. The lessons are tailored to your personal requirements and the staff are absolutely incredible working with children and adults. They have a great selection of jumps, drops and equipment for improving techniques and gaining confidence from beginners to experienced riders. They explore with the kids how to care for their bikes and let them explain what they would like to work on. 
 

4.    Nairn beach and Splashpad is a fabulous day out, also costs nothing if you go with a picnic. However, if you don’t, there is also a fabulous little café that does amazing iced coffees on a warm day. The splashpad is an amazing set up and was fundraised by the Hey family who tragically lost their child Hamish. It’s a fabulous place for kids to play and is totally enclosed with lovely seating around the area. The beach itself is then only a stone’s throw away to take a walk, paddleboard, have a picnic and build sandcastles. You can easily spend the whole day here. Nairn Beach also has a group of volunteers who run the ability to hire sand suitable wheelchairs making the beach accessible to all. [email protected]
 

5.    The Fairy Pools on the Isle of Skye are just a must visit for us almost every summer. They are located near the village or Carbost in Glenbrittle. The pools themselves are beautiful with translucent spring water that are fed to the pools from a series of waterfalls. There is something quite special about seeing them and if you're brave enough head into their icy waters. Some people do prefer a wetsuit as even in Summer they can be pretty chilly! 

6.    Landmark Centre CarrBridge is a firm favourite with our children and for us adults it’s a fabulous day out. Whether you like the Bamboozleum, butterflies and a walk through the forest or if you enjoy a more adrenaline filled day of water slides, networx ropes and high ropes challenges, there is something for everyone. Everything is included in your day ticket price which we always feel as a family is really beneficial and there’s no hidden costs. They allow picnics in the park and their cafes are also fantastic. 

7.    Stonehaven outdoor pool is a unique experience in Scotland with the saltwater heated pool. The open-air pool is open 7 days a week over Summer with some options for moonlight swims in July and August but these need to be prebooked. The pool opened in 1934 and was built to competition standards for races. It provided recreation and showers throughout World War II. We highly recommend a visit; you will want to go back! 
8.    The Speyside Walk which begins at Buckie, is a truly breathtaking walk. You can walk parts of this walk and the walking highlands website breaks all the separate routes down for you. We have over the years done some of this and it’s a must if you’re in the area and looking for some gentle exercise. This can be walked or cycled and most parts are also buggy friendly. Speyside Way (Walkhighlands) For a shorter option the Aviemore to Boat of Garten is a good option at just 9km but we really like the Buckie to Focabers route which is around 17.5km you can of course break this down or only walk parts of it. It’s a spectacular part of Scotland with parks, cafes and places to stop in at on route or slightly off your route to help break up your travels. 
9.    Wester Hardmuir Farm is a great day out for the whole family on a summer's day. Located just outside Nairn, there is a farm shop filled with locally grown products along with delicious traybakes and cakes. Outside you can pick an array of seasonal fruit and the kids can burn off some energy in the playpark. They have fresh ice cream which is absolutely delicious with their own fresh berries. Open Monday to Sunday 9-5pm. 
 

10.    Brechin Country Park and Garden Centre is another favourite on the way to Aberdeen. There is a fabulous garden centre here along with a farm shop, café and playpark. They have recently upgraded the outdoor park which is a fantastic improvement for the kids. They are constantly upgrading the outdoor park which is something you often don’t see in playparks. They now have footgolf, the fairy trail is transformed at certain points of the year, dragon tale castle, mini tractors, sandpits, climbing frames, wooden sledge run, a maze and go karts. The park is always immaculately clean. We also found their farm shop to be incredibly versatile and has an amazing selection of foods for all dietary requirements.
 
11.    Loch Morlich is one our favourites as a family to visit all year round but in the summer its such a lovely atmosphere and place to visit. There are several places you can park and walk to the Loch. We tend to park in the main car park, if we want to access the larger beach area and the watersports. Here you can hire an array of boats, paddleboads, canoes, kayaks and explore the water. Lots of people bring their own equipment  and the others simply go for a paddle or a swim. It can be chilly here even in Summer so if you prefer to stay a tad warmer I'd recommend a wetsuit to keep warm.