Scotland's best days out revealed – from hidden cities to island hopping
Read on to find out the top five family days out to enjoy
FAMILY FUN Scotland's best days out revealed – from hidden cities to island hopping
WITH the summer holidays just around the corner - many parents will be looking for things to keep the little ones entertained.
Scotland is full of exciting activities and events to enjoy this summer - from hidden cities to island hopping - there's something for everyone.
7
Families can enjoy the free outdoor cinema in Edinburgh this summer
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Kids can meet some fluffy alpacas at the Royal Highland Show
7
Explore the underground streets of Edinburgh's hidden city
Credit: Luigi Di Pasquale
The country is packed with unforgettable family adventures this season.
Here are five top family days out to enjoy.
The Royal Highland Show
Families can head to the Royal Highland Show from Friday, June 20 until Monday, June 23 at Ingliston, in Edinburgh, for a celebration of Scotland's rural roots.
From prize-winning sheep to the mighty Clydesdale, there are over 4,500 animals on the showground in a four-day extravaganza of farming, food and fun.
You can get up close with cows, goats, donkeys, and even alpacas, then stick around for the Grand Parade of Champions - the livestock world's answer to the catwalk.
New to the event this year is a Mini Land Rover track and an expanded family zone.
When the sun sets, older kids can kick back at the Royal Highland Hoolie – a folky, feel-good concert featuring top Scottish and Irish acts.
Children under 15 go free, and with a dedicated tram now in service.
Over 220,000 people are expected to flock on the event this year, more information here.
Edinburgh's hidden city
History meets mystery in this new dual underground experience launching Thursday, June 19.
Butlin's reveals new £1.8million soft play attraction with three floors of activities
For the first time, The Real Mary King's Close and The Lost Close join forces for a fascinating tour through two of Edinburgh's most secret subterranean streets.
Begin the tour with a coffee and stories beneath John's Coffee House.
Then, encounter a Victorian Crossley engine buried in time before heading across the iconic Royal Mile to The Real Mary King's Close.
Visitors can discover a perfectly preserved 17th-century street where plague doctors, politicians and paupers once walked.
With rich storytelling, real artefacts, and atmospheric underground spaces, it's a unique way to show curious kids what lies beneath Scotland's capital.
Tours run Thursday to Saturday until the August 30, with tickets priced £40 per person including a hot drink. Tours are limited to just 12 people per session.
The tour is suitable for children five and above, find out more here.
7
Visitors can discover a perfectly preserved 17th-century street where plague doctors, politicians and paupers once walked
Edinburgh's outdoor movie weekend
Pack a picnic and set your blanket down in St Andrew Square Gardens from June 13 to 15 for one of the UK's biggest free outdoor film festivals.
Square Cinema will have something for everyone – from Paddington 2 and Inside Out 2, to sing-along Wicked and even Gladiator 2 for the grown-ups.
With accessible screenings, subtitles on all films, and audio-described options, the weekend is designed to be inclusive and family-friendly.
There will even be snacks on offer with tasters from Dishoom, popcorn, ice cream from Alandas, or grab a chilled Heineken 0%.
No tickets required - just turn up and tune in. More information here.
7
Square Cinema will have something for everyone
Island hopping
Whether it's a short hop to Arran, Bute or Cumbrae, or an epic adventure to the Outer Hebrides, island-hopping offers families a slice of Scottish magic.
Kids will have hours of fun hunting for dinosaur tracks on Skye.
Families can also take part in The Quest, a new trail on Mull and Iona inspired by ancient invaders and explorers.
Onboard CalMac ferries, little ones can enjoy the novelty of ferry travel – and there's even a story board to prepare nervous travellers.
For more information visit here.
7
Island-hopping offers families a slice of Scottish magic
Loch Ness Centre
Families can walk through 500 million years of natural history, folklore and scientific exploration at the Loch Ness Centre in Inverness.
During an immersive one-hour tour, visitors can explore interactive exhibits, ancient myths, real scientific research and dramatic retellings of Nessie sightings over the decades.
You'll uncover artefacts, explore the natural history of the loch, and come face-to-face with the facts and folklore behind Scotland's most famous mystery along the way.
And if you're looking for more Nessie activities then make sure you join the Loch Ness Centre Deep Scan Cruise - a separate bookable experience that sets sail directly from the Centre's harbour.
On this intimate tour for up to 12 guests, you'll learn about the past 40 years of monster-hunting science while using cutting-edge sonar equipment to search the loch's inky depths for yourself.
With views of Urquhart Castle and the surrounding Highlands, it's a cruise that offers both breathtaking scenery and the thrill of the unknown.
For more information and tickets visit here.
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