The Cairngorms is the UK’s largest national park and covers an area of 4,528km² in the Scottish Highlands. Only 16,000 people live in this vast space, mostly in towns and villages. Five of the six highest mountains in Scotland are here, and the landscape includes glaciers, granite tors, rivers and glens – only Canada has more Arctic features.

• Three of Scotland’s family ski resorts are in the Cairngorms: Glenshee, Aviemore and Lecht 2090.
• Major watersports centres at Loch Insh and Loch Morlich enjoy Europe’s cleanest lochs and rivers for everything from rafting to canyoning.
• Some of the UK’s best walking trails range from easy strolls to full-day hikes all over the Cairngorms.
• Mountain-biking and road-cycling are big news here, and you can hire bikes easily.
• Luxury log cabins, budget hostels, campsites, cosy guesthouses and family hotels are just a few of the accommodation options across the Cairngorms.

• This is the land of the legendary Loch Ness Monster, dolphin-spotting on the Moray Firth and gateway to gorgeous Kyle of Lochalsh and Skye. Inverness is a great Highland city and a fantastic holiday for kids. Whether you visit to spot porpoise or monsters, the ‘Capital of the Highlands’ offers accommodation options ranging from country house hotels to cosy chalets and holiday parks.

Scotland’s largest city and one of the great Victorians, Glasgow is filled with museums and galleries, acres of parkland, amazing buildings, fantastic sports facilities and the best shopping streets in the country.

• M & D’s theme park just 20 minutes drive from Glasgow is Scotland’s biggest.
• Glasgow has the UK’s longest indoor ski-slope at Snow Factor.
• There are more than 90 parks across the city.
• Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum is one of the country’s top three attractions.
• Glasgow Buchanan Street is the best shopping street in the UK outside London.
• A good range of value hotel brands and boutique guesthouses mean families can do Glasgow on a budget. But, if you want to splash out, the city also has a wide choice of exceptional 5-star hotels.

The capital of Scotland, home of the Scottish Parliament, Holyrood House, the Royal Mile and all the country’s national museums, Edinburgh is also one of the loveliest cities in Europe.

• Edinburgh International Festival is one of the world’s oldest and most popular.
• Mary King’s Close and Greyfriar’s Churchyard are the place for deliciously spooky Halloween tours.
• The Old Town and New Town (basically the entire city centre) is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
• Edinburgh has the UK’s biggest New Year street party and kids don’t have to stay up too late to join in the Calton Hill Torchlight Procession.
• From the Waldorf Astoria to the Sheraton, Edinburgh does high-end hotels. But there are plenty of affordable options too – book well in advance for the Festival.

Argyll is an enchanting land of enormous forests, dazzling rivers, mountain roads, huge glens and ancient towns and villages. If that isn’t magical enough, head for the Western Isles and set the kids free.

• This entire area is well stocked with places to stay from luxury resorts to historic inns, camping and holiday parks.