9 Family-friendly adventure holidays in Scotland

The Tweed Valley is brimming with forest trail adventures, wildlife, and storybook scenery. The Glentress Forest is the perfect base to spend a break. Forest Holidays offer cabins with outdoor play areas, and nature-themed activities run by on-site rangers. Wee ones can explore fairy trails, build dens, or spot red squirrels from the deck. Meanwhile, the Glentress 7Stanes mountain biking centre is well-suited for active teens, with trails for cyclists for all abilities.  Nearby, Go Ape offers tree-top thrills for older children. Head to Peebles for riverside picnics, ice cream stops, and shops for rainy-day browsing. 

Getting there: Less than an hour from Edinburgh by car. Borders Buses also run regular services to Peebles from Edinburgh. 

Where to stay: Consider the self-catering accommodation at The Trail House in Glentress.

Begin at Cairnie Fruit Farm near Cupar, where older children can take on the towering Mega Maze (open through October), and visitors of all ages can enjoy Pick Your Own soft fruit and sunflowers into late August. Then head east to the golden sands and rock pools of Elie or Kingsbarns, or walk a stretch of the Fife Coastal Path, which links charming seaside villages with cliffside views and hidden beaches. For active families, there’s cycling at Tentsmuir Forest or water sports at Lochore Meadows. Nearby, Kinshaldy Beach (Tentsmuir Point) is a peaceful spot to view grey seals ahead of the pupping season. 

Getting there: Most of Fife is accessible by rail with Cupar, Leuchars and Lochgelly all reachable from Edinburgh within an hour. 

Where to stay: Try the Rings in Cupar which offers fully accessible family lodges surrounded by countryside. 

Families with energy to burn should head just west of Edinburgh to Conifox Adventure Park in Kirkliston. Here little adventurers can scramble over high frames, zoom on go-karts, and ride mini tractors. There’s also a big indoor soft play area which makes it great for rainy days. Less than 15 minutes away in Ratho is the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena (EICA), Europe’s largest indoor climbing centre. As well as professional routes for older kids and teens, it includes a clip ‘n climb zone, a brand-new bouldering hall, soft play, and a café overlooking the vast indoor quarry wall. 

Getting there: Both attractions are about 30 minutes by car from Edinburgh city centre. Lothian Buses and ScotRail trains both stop at Edinburgh Gateway or Newbridge. 

Where to stay: Enjoy a relaxing rural break at Harvest Moon Holidays near Dunbar, East Lothian. 

A compact island with timeless appeal, there’s always something new to try Cumbrae. Attempt a quadricycle (tandem) ride, where the whole family pedals together around the coast, or hop on a Cumbrae Voyages wildlife boat tour for a chance to spot seals and porpoises offshore. For something more wild, book a trip to neighbouring Wee Cumbrae, where glamping tents, sea kayaking and nature walks offer a remote island experience that feels truly off-grid. Or stay at the recently opened Jack’s Alt-Stays, a collection of eco-friendly glamping cabins with playful interiors, hot tubs, and private fire pits where you can unwind after a day of island exploring.   

Getting there: Get the train to Largs from Glasgow then a quick CalMac ferry to Cumbrae Slip, followed by a short bus or walk to Millport. 

Where to stay: Millport Holiday Park located just a short walk from the shorefront, with a play park and games room.

The newly revitalised Dalscone Farm Fun in Dumfries now boasts zip lines, castle-themed climbing frames, and indoor soft play which will keep wee ones occupied all day. Just north of Dumfries is the Galloway Activity Centre on Loch Ken which offers watersports, paddleboarding, climbing walls and archery; ideal for the older ones. Do a spot of fossil hunting on the Solway Coast or visit the Galloway Forest Park for walking and wildlife. For bike lovers, there’s always the 7Stanes Dalbeattie mountain biking trails. 

Getting there: Get the train to Dumfries from both Edinburgh (with a change) and from Glasgow direct.

Where to stay: The Loch Ken Eco Bothies at Galloway Activity Centre. There’s also Criffel Lodge, self-catering accommodation with a wildlife hide and farm trails for kids. 

Ardnamurchan offers a retreat where families can truly unplug. Stay at the recently opened Borradill Cabins which offer Nordic-inspired wooden lodges surrounded by forest trails, play areas and fire pits. Slow down and let the kids set the agenda for the day, whether it’s to explore Sanna Bay’s dunes, take a hike Ardnamurchan Lighthouse, or venture further afield and hop on the ferry to Mull. Around an hour's drive away is Loch Shiel and more dramatic Highland scenery and scenic boat trips. You could even pay a visit to the Glenfinnan Viaduct to catch sight of the Jacobite Steam Train made famous by Harry Potter. Keep your eyes peeled for deer sightings, forage for berries, or take guided boat or kayaking tours across Loch Sunart. At night, with no screen to distract, spend the evening reconnecting as a family while taking in unforgettable nights skies.   

Getting there: Best reached by car via ferry from Corran or Kilchoan. Prepare for winding single-track roads. 

Where to stay: Borradill Cabins or the Ardnamurchan Bunkhouse. 

Visit South Ronaldsay as it unveils one of Scotland’s most intriguing sites: the newly reopened Tomb of the Eagles. Learn about Neolithic life through hands-on exhibits and walk the clifftop path to the tomb site overlooking the sea. Explore the tidal causeway at The Churchill Barriers, ideal for seal spotting and scenic bike rides. Or join a local wildlife boat trip around Burray and Hoxa Head to search for puffins, seabirds and the occasional orca. Sandwick Bay provides a great beach for rockpooling, paddling and coastal walks, while the Orkney Fossil & Heritage Centre adds a quieter educational stop. 

Getting there: Ferries to Orkney run from Scrabster to Stromness or Gills Bay to St Margaret’s Hope, South Ronaldsay.  

Where to stay: Try The Ruff, a former harbourmaster’s cottage with sea views, a private lawn and a sauna. 

Oban is the perfect jumping-off point for west coast family adventures. Explore McCaig’s Tower or take a boat trip to spot seals and sea eagles. Then hop on the short passenger ferry to the Isle of Kerrera. One of Scotland’s lesser-known islands, it offers a car-free haven with just one circular walking trail but heaps to explore. Hike to Gylen Castle, perched dramatically on a cliff, and stop at the Kerrera Tea Garden & Bunkhouse for home baking, donkey meet-and-greets, and spectacular views.

Getting there: Oban is served by train from Glasgow and buses from across Scotland. The Kerrera ferry runs daily from Gallanach.

Where to stay: Kerrera Bunkhouse or the family friendly Galley of Lorne Inn on Oban.

Split a Hebridean adventure between two islands. On Lewis, explore the ancient Calanais Stones, enjoy hands-on croft history at Gearrannan Blackhouse Village, and stroll the leafy trails of Lews Castle Grounds in Stornoway. From Lewis, travel south through the island (crossing via Eriskay) to reach Barra, where planes famously land on the beach at Traigh Mhòr. Paddle in the shallow bays of Vatersay, and join a boat trip out to Kisimul Castle, which is set to reopen in late summer 2025 after major conservation works. Sample the local pizza at Crust Like That near Achmore on Lewis, a container-based wood-fired pizza spot. On Barra, Joan’s Barra Pizza in Borve serves handmade pies from a tiny hut on weekends.

Getting there: You can reach Lewis by ferry from Ullapool or by flying from Glasgow or Inverness to Stornoway. Barra is accessible by ferry from Oban or by flight from Glasgow, landing on its famous beach runway.

Where to stay: The glamping cabins at Hebridean Huts on Lewis or the Isle of Barra Beach Hotel.

*Please note that the Calanais Stones can be visited but the visitor centre is closed until 2026.