Words by Sally Coffey
Scotland has a knack for making the journey part of the adventure. Families can board a steam train through the West Highlands, fall asleep on a sleeper service bound for Inverness or take a ferry to an island that feels a world away.
Once there, the choices stretch well beyond sightseeing. There are hills to climb, castle battlements to explore and the possibility of spotting something mysterious in Loch Ness.
Whether your children would rather meet reindeer in the Cairngorms or hunt for shells on a Mull beach, these six family adventures offer plenty of reasons to get outdoors together.
The Jacobite steam train sets off from Fort William
Ride the Harry Potter train through the West Highlands
In the 25th anniversary year of the release of the first Harry Potter film, there can be no bigger thrill for wizarding fans than stepping aboard the real-life Hogwarts Express and travelling through some of the epic scenery that magically brought the books to life.
From April to October, the Jacobite steam train sets off from Fort William, where Ben Nevis looms large, and makes the journey through the majestic West Highlands. A highlight of the route is the Glenfinnan Viaduct, which Harry and Ron fly over (and under) in Ron’s car in the second film, Chamber of Secrets.
The train, which is delightfully nostalgic, delivers you to the port town of Mallaig, where you can have fish and chips before making the return journey or continuing over the sea to Skye.
– READ MORE: Why the Hebrides make the bonniest breaks in Scotland for families –
Conic Hill offers rewarding views over Loch Lomond
Hike a Munro together in Scotland
Scotland is the land of hills – far too many to count – and a popular pastime for more adventurous Scottish families is “Munro-bagging”: seeing how many of the highest of these hills they can climb.
It can be an invigorating, life-affirming experience hiking a Munro as a family, though it should really be attempted only by those with a good level of experience (and probably older children). There are some excellent hiking guides and tour companies, such as HF Holidays, for those looking to test themselves but to do so safely. For families looking for more of an entry-level hike – especially those with younger children – the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park has some great trails. Conic Hill offers rewarding views over the famous loch from the top of a gently ascending walk, while Ben A’an on the Trossachs side of the park has all the hallmarks of a mountain, just on a smaller scale.
– READ MORE: 20 UK attractions to take kids to before they grow up –
Meeting Mingary Castle alpacas
Stay in a Scottish castle and meet the furry locals
Scotland has one of the world’s highest concentrations of castles – perfect for firing young imaginations. At Mingary Castle, hidden far along the Ardnamurchan peninsula, it’s easy to feel as though you have been charged with protecting some powerful outpost.
Inside, the former fortress has been transformed into a luxurious restaurant with four suites, including the McCain Suite, which comes with two rooms and its own battlements.
Getting here is an adventure in itself as you must drive along winding single-track roads, past confused sheep who seem to look at you as if to say “are you lost?” before arriving at Kilchoan, the most westerly village in Britain.
Children will love the wild goats that wander round the castle grounds, and the nearby Funny Farm offers hands-on experiences with alpacas, Shetland ponies, rabbits and more.
– READ MORE: Amazing islands for family holidays in Scotland –
Nessie “The Loch Ness Monster”
Take the Caledonian Sleeper to Loch Ness with kids
One of the best family adventures you can have in Scotland starts before you even get there.
Board the Caledonian Sleeper train in London’s Euston Station, allow the movement of the train to rock you to sleep and, before you know it, you’ll wake up in Inverness refreshed and ready for a day of monster hunting on Loch Ness.
Children love the novelty of the small but snug cabins, but book interconnecting cabins so the adults can get at least a little rest between the excitement.
Once in Loch Ness, you can take a boat trip, or for even more of a bonding experience, take a guided canoe tour where you can get a closer look at any suspect ripples in the water.
– READ MORE: The best of British family hotels for breaks with kids this year –
Caledonian Sleeper
Meet the free-roaming reindeer in the Cairngorms
Who says reindeer are only for Christmas? In the hills above Glenmore in the sublime Cairngorms National Park – the UK’s largest – a herd of these lovable creatures roams free, having been reintroduced to the region in the 1950s.
Guided hill walks take place all year – except January and early February – though spring through to summer are the best times to visit. The walk can be a little tricky at times so there is a minimum age of four, but children who can walk independently will love the sense of adventure.
There is nothing as grin-inducing as feeling the fluffy noses of the reindeer as they nuzzle food from your hand. It’s a family memory you’ll recount every Christmas.
– READ MORE: 15 beautiful beaches kids won’t believe are in the UK –
Meet the free-roaming reindeer in the Cairngorm
Go pony trekking and beachcombing on the Isle of Mull
Scotland’s islands offer a sense of escapism like nowhere else, and while Skye is perennially popular, the Isle of Mull has a quiet allure that makes it a great choice for families.
As with most of the islands, getting here requires taking a ferry, which creates a sense of reaching a faraway land. Once here there are lots of options for outdoor exploration.
Take a pony trek along the sands of Loch Na Keal at low tide, even entering the water for a real “at-one-with-nature” experience, or spend your days exploring the many empty beaches around the island’s shoreline.
At pretty Calgary Bay you can search for shells, while at Laggan Sands, you can take a bracing walk to encounter some of the local cattle that might be wandering on the beach and search for washed-up treasures before warming up with soup (and huge slabs of cake) at the Old Post Office Café afterwards.
– READ MORE: 6 fun attractions for kids on family holidays in Scotland –
Calgary Bay
