You’ve packed the car, the kids are strapped in the back, and somewhere ahead is a Scottish adventure waiting to happen. But where do you actually go, and what do you do once you get there?
From ancient castles and dinosaur footprints hidden in tidal rock pools to steam trains winding through the Highlands and family-friendly museums packed with interactive exhibits, Scotland is full of adventures for every age.
To help you discover even more places worth exploring, we’ve analysed data from across the UK to uncover the country’s best-kept secrets. This guide mixes the well-known favourites with a few things most guidebooks skip, so you’ve got a real spread of places to visit in Scotland with the family, whatever the weather does.
Why Scotland Is One of the UK’s Best Destinations for Family Days Out
Scotland is diverse enough that you can go from mountain to coast to city in under two hours, so you’re never far from a change of scenery if the kids (or you) need one. There’s also a decent mix of free and paid activities: a walk to a waterfall costs nothing, a day at an adventure park costs more but fills the whole day on its own.
The other thing in Scotland’s favour is that the weather forces flexibility on you. Most regions have at least one solid indoor option near the outdoor ones, so a rained-off morning doesn’t have to mean a rained-off day.
How to Choose the Best Things to Do with Kids in Scotland
A few things are worth thinking through before you set off, especially if you’re covering ground by car.
- Weather backup plan. Scotland can turn from bright sunshine to pouring rain within the hour. Pair one outdoor stop with one indoor option nearby so a change in the sky doesn’t end the day early.
- Distance and drive time. The Highlands, the Trossachs, Fife and Edinburgh are all worth visiting, but they’re not next door to each other. Cluster your stops by region rather than criss-crossing the country, and build in proper breaks. A car with enough boot space and legroom for car seats, buggies and the inevitable pile of wet waterproofs makes those longer journeys much easier on everyone.
Top 10 Secret Adventures & Places to Visit in Scotland with Family
Whether your family loves history, wildlife or hands-on adventures, these are ten of the best places to visit in Scotland. Some are well-loved, a couple you’ll genuinely have to yourself.
1. Dinosaur Footprints, Isle of Skye
At An Corran Beach near Staffin, three-toed prints left by two-legged plant-eating dinosaurs sit in the sandstone at low tide. Real 165-million-year-old tracks your kids can stand in. A short drive south, Brothers’ Point (Rubha nam Brathairean) hides around 50 more prints from long-necked sauropods and predatory theropods, reached via a 1.5-mile coastal walk. Check tide times before you go, since both sites disappear underwater at high tide.
There’s free parking right by the beach at Staffin, though the small car park near Culnacnoc for Brothers’ Point fills up fast, so arrive early.
2. Deep Sea World, Fife
Scotland’s national aquarium in North Queensferry is a reliable rainy-day fix, built around a 112-metre underwater tunnel where sand tiger sharks swim overhead while you glide through on a moving walkway. Daily seal feeds and talks run throughout the day, and it’s an easy stop if you’re already exploring Fife or coming over from Edinburgh.
There’s free on-site parking, and it’s well signposted from the M90 at Junction 1.
3. The Fairy Pools, Glen Brittle
A gentle 20-minute walk from the car park brings you to a series of vivid blue pools and waterfalls beneath the Cuillin mountains on Skye, one of the most photographed spots on the island for good reason. The path suits most kids, though it’s not buggy-friendly, and the water is glacially cold if anyone fancies a dip.
The single-track road in from Carbost gets busy in peak season, so take it slowly and use the passing places; there’s a paid car park at the trailhead that fills up by mid-morning in summer. Go early or late to dodge the crowds.
If wild swimming’s your thing, Scotland isn’t the only place with hidden pools worth the walk – Wales has a few of its own secret swimming spots.
4. Landmark Forest Adventure Park, Carrbridge
Merely illustrative photo
Set inside an ancient pine forest near Aviemore, Landmark mixes water coasters and treetop rope courses with a Dinosaur Kingdom of life-size, moving dinosaurs, plus a maze of optical illusions in the Bamboozeleum. There’s a route for almost every age, from the toddler-friendly Wee Monkey Trail to the high-level RopeWorkz for older kids, and it’s all included in one ticket price.
Parking is free and plentiful on-site, though if you’re in a larger campervan or caravan, the public car park in Carrbridge village is a better bet.
5. Linlithgow Peel, West Lothian
The parkland around the ruined Linlithgow Palace makes for an easy, flat loop around Linlithgow Loch, past swans, the odd heron and views back to the palace where Mary Queen of Scots was born. It’s the kind of spot most people drive straight past on the way to Edinburgh or Stirling, which is exactly why it made our nation’s best-kept secrets list.
Park at the Water Yett car park right by the loch, or use one of the pay-and-display council car parks in town if that’s full; either way, it’s a short walk into the Peel itself.
6. Cairngorm Reindeer Centre, Glenmore
Britain’s only free-ranging reindeer herd roams the hills above Aviemore, and a guided Hill Trip takes you up to hand-feed them on their own turf. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours, and wear proper boots, since the ground is rough underfoot.
Park in the lay-bys along the main road at Glenmore.
7. Loch Trool, Galloway Forest Park
Tucked into the Galloway hills, Loch Trool is where Robert the Bruce and 300 men ambushed a much larger English army in 1307, and the circuit walk takes you past Bruce’s Stone and a handful of waterfalls tumbling down into the loch. It’s remote enough that most families never make it this far southwest, which is why Loch Trool also features on our nation’s best-kept secrets list.
The car park at Bruce’s Stone is free, sits right on the loch shore, and is the easiest place to start the walk from, though be warned the midges can be fierce in summer.
8. Rothiemurchus, Aviemore
This working Highland estate at the foot of the Cairngorms has more going on than you’ll manage in one visit. Feed the red deer, meet the resident Highland cows, get younger kids on a gentle pony ride, or walk the 7km Beaver Trail through ancient Caledonian pine forest. It sits right on the edge of the Cairngorms National Park, one of several spots that make our guide to the UK’s best nature reserves worth a look if wildlife-spotting is what your family’s after.
Park for free at the Woodlands car park in Inverdruie, just a mile or so from Aviemore, which also doubles as the trailhead for most of the walks.
9. Blair Drummond Safari & Adventure Park, Stirling
Home to lions, rhinos and cheeky Barbary macaques, this family favourite features a walk-through zoo, a life-size dinosaur trail, and an adventure playground packed with slides, a pirate ship and a flying fox. Set aside most of a day to explore everything on offer, and bring a picnic if you’d rather skip the food court.
Parking is free and right next to the entrance, with over 70 accessible spaces if you need them.
10. St Andrews West Sands
A wide, flat two-mile stretch of golden sand backed by dunes, best known as the beach from Chariots of Fire. Also one of the easiest, lowest-effort days out on this list. Bring buckets, spades and a kite, then reward the walk back with an ice cream in town.
There’s a pay-and-display car park right at the West Sands entrance, so no long trek from town needed if little legs are already tired.
Expert Tips for an Unforgettable Family Road Trip in Scotland
Once you’ve picked your stops, a little planning goes a long way toward keeping everyone happy on the road.
Pack for Every Kind of Weather
Scotland can deliver sunshine, wind and rain in the same afternoon. Waterproof jackets, spare socks and extra layers earn their space in the boot even in July.
Book Popular Attractions Ahead in School Holidays
Reindeer Hill Trips, Landmark Forest Adventure Park and Deep Sea World all get busy during Scottish school holidays. Booking online in advance saves a wasted trip, and often saves money too.
Keep a Boredom-Busting Kit in the Car
A small bag of snacks, wipes, a change of clothes and something for the inevitable “are we nearly there yet” stretch makes the driving sections between adventures far less painful for everyone.
Plan Your Family-Friendly Scotland Roadtrip with SIXT
Scotland rewards a bit of wandering off the obvious route. Having the right car for the job makes that easier: enough space for the buggy, the wellies and the emergency snack stash, with the flexibility to change plans if the weather, or the kids, decide otherwise. Browse SIXT car hire in Scotland and start planning your own adventure.
