Off to Inverness tomorrow for a weeks holiday with the family and was looking for some suggestions of good places to stop and exercise an (almost) 3 year old. Fairly flexible on route (east or west coast) on the way up as we’ll do it over two days but will be coming back in a single day so will stay on the direct route.

I think we’ll stop at the Falkirk wheel on the way up and there looks to be a good adventure place just north of Perth for the way back. Any other suggestions?

The more ideas the better as then we can be a bit flexible depending on the weather/how long he sleeps.

There’s a big wildlife park thing near Aviemore & Blair Drummond safari park near Stirling. Stirling Castle is also cool.

Thanks for those. We’re actually staying in Aviemore for a couple of days so that wildlife park could come in useful.

If you are staying in Aviemore, I recomend this place. Landmark

Landmark centre (again near Aviemore) is good – though 3 might be a bit wee to really enjoy it all.

Also steam railway in Aviemore could be a winner if the wee one likes Thomas!

Other than that, you’re not far from Laggan (when in Aviemore) and Golspie/Balblair (Inverness) if you can escape for a couple of hours 🙂

Edit – beaten to it for Landmark but definitely worth it

Further south, this is great: http://www.theforbiddencorner.co.uk/

Half an hour from the A1 and you have to book in advance, but it’s great for a few hours.

Edit: actually, Google image search is better than their website for giving an idea of what it’s all about!

On the A9, north of Perth, The Hermitage is a nice stop, big trees, a viewing platform overlooking an excellent waterfall that you can sometimes watch salmon trying to jump. A couple of hundred yards from the car park, which is almost on the A9, so a decent leg stretch
Before that at bankfoot, 5 miles or so north of Perth, come off the A9 and head east for a mile or so and you can visit stewart’s tower for some excellent ice cream (might be signposted, can’t remember). There’s a petting zoo, so ice cream + cute animals = winner for a 3 year old

Thanks all, some great suggestions there. Just need to pack now!