Pentland Hills Image courtesy of 'Rich B-S' via Flickr
Creative Commons Image courtesy of 'Rich B-S' via Flickr

In Scotland we are so lucky to be surrounded by beautiful scenery and wonderful parks. With this in mind we decided to compile the top ten outdoor family days out. These are the places that we trek to for our favourite picnic spot or the beautiful walk that we do time and time again. A huge thank you to our followers on Twitter and Facebook for their suggestions.

We might not always get the best Winter weather so wellies and a raincoat are advised!

  1. Macrosty Park, Crieff

The park has a long tradition of catering for family visits and has been popular throughout its history for recreation, play and socialising within a landscape setting of exceptional quality.

 

  1. Yellowcraigs, North Berwick

A pleasing mix of woodland, dune grassland and coast means there’s much to  attract people to this site. Lots of great places to walk or have a picnic. There is also lots of wildlife to spot.

 

  1. Pentland Hills, Edinburgh

The Pentland Hills Regional Park is a living, working landscape, which offers great opportunities to experience and enjoy the outdoors. There are a variety of  different walks for all abilities.

 

  1. Doune Castle, Perthshire

This impressive fortress of Doune Castle was built in the late 14thC by Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany, who effectively ruled Scotland during the reign of  Robert III and while James I was imprisoned in England. The castle featured in the Monty Python film “The Holy Grail”

 

  1. Falls of Foyers, Inverness

This short but spectacular walk takes in the must see sight of South Loch Ness –   the Falls of Foyers. The walk then continues down to the shores of Loch Ness for  a short loop before returning uphill past the falls.

 

  1. Dunning Glen, Perthshire

Spectacular views and lots of walks for all abilities make Dunning Glen a must-visit.

 

  1. Neist Point, Isle of Skye

The most westerly point on Skye. Regarded as the best place to spot whales, dolphins, gannets and lots of other wild life.

 

  1. Mugdock Park, Glasgow

Mugdock is one of Scotland’s most popular visitor attractions offering a great countryside experience. Plenty to see and do for all ages including walking, orienteering and cycling.

 

  1. Pittencrieff Park, Dunfermline

Known as “The Glen” to locals the park has many walks suitable for all,  numerous play parks and historical sites nearby – including Dunfermline Palace & Abbey.

 

  1. Falls of Clyde. New Lanark

From the conservation town of New Lanark you can enjoy beautiful riverside walks through the Reserve, following in the footsteps of many poets and painters including Wordsworth and Turner.

 

And for the really rainy days here is last year’s list of the top ten free family days out in Scotland, which includes plenty of indoor attractions.

Got a suggestion for a great family day out? Leave a comment below and we’ll tweet the best ones.

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