For families

1 Aberdeen

The “Granite City” has beautiful buildings, year-round floral displays and a long beach fringed with entertainments, including the Beach Leisure Centre and the Satrosphere, a science discovery complex.

Location: Satrosphere
Address: 179 Constitution St
(01224) 640340
Phone: Maritime Museum Shiprow; (01224) 337700, Art Gallery Schoolhill; (01224) 523700, Provost Skene’s Ho Guestrow: (01224) 641086
www.aberdeencity.gov.uk

2 Ardnamurchan

This peninsula – with its rugged mountains, pretty villages and what is one of the most delightful roads in the country, ending in a parade of white sand – is as lyrical in nature as it is in name. Acharacle is a famed den of musicians (try the hall or Glenuig Inn), while Glenmore is home to a Natural History Centre with a “living building”.

Address: Transport: Caledonian MacBrayne runs local ferry services between the mainland and the Scottish islands.
Phone: (01397) 703781
Natural History Centre:
Phone: (01972) 500209
Opening info: Apr–Oct
www.ardnamurchannaturalhistorycentre.co.uk

3 Aviemore Kart Centre

Children just seem to love noisy engines and burning their way round race tracks. For all budding Grand Prix champions, this is the place. There are courses and machines to suit all ages, and safety helmets are provided. The Bullit is the fastest kart.

Location: Aviemore
Phone: (01479) 810722
Opening info: 10am–late daily

4 Arduaine Gardens

A dazzling assembly of rhododendrons, azaleas, magnolias and hosts of exotics from the Pacific Islands to the Himalayas. Arduaine is beautifully situated on a promontory between sea lochs, and glories in the warm winds from the Gulf Stream.

5 Balmoral and Royal Deeside

Bordering the salmon pools of the River Dee, Queen Victoria bought this castle – her “dear paradise” – in 1852. Balmoral remains the holiday home of the monarch to this day and, consequently, the rolling countryside around the banks of the river has taken on the royal moniker. Cast an eye round the castle’s sumptuous ballroom, then make the most of the enchanting forest walks.

Phone: (01339) 742534
Opening info: Apr–31 Jul: 10am–5pm daily
www.balmoralcastle.com

 

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