Nature's Adventure Playground

Making the most of the Great Outdoors

Yes, our weather is a constant source of grumbling, but we should stop and appreciate what an amazing – and accessible – outdoor playground we have right on our doorstep in Scotland. For a wee country, there’s an inexhaustible variety of fantastic activities on offer, for every age range. Think of it as the ultimate adventure playground. And with the right clothing, you can get the family outdoors all year round, to make the kids appreciate the changing seasons and the endless variety of the countryside. And walking up a hill, of course, comes absolutely free. I managed to get my then four-year-old and her one-and-a-half-year-old sister up to the top of Windy Hill in Muirshiel Country Park on a crisp winter’s day with the promise of a flask of tomato soup and a lollypop at the summit. They’re still talking about that day out more than a year later.  

As well as the hills, Scotland has some of the best cycling in the world, an endless variety of coastline and lochs to explore, and a great choice of organised outdoor activities. 

But where do you start when it comes to finding a suitable sport, a challenge which will give your kids a sense of achievement, but not push them so far that they’ll never want to repeat the experience? The secret is to keep their capabilities in mind, and not try to push them too far too soon. Find something which you think will excite them and challenge them without scaring them out of their wits.  

VisitScotland is a good place to start when it comes to searching for the right outdoor activity. 

Some of our favourites are: 

Toboganning– okay, so snow is becoming rarer and rarer, but you can still experience the thrill of sledging with your kids at Braehead’s indoor snow slope. There are specific sessions for 3-6 year olds. Visit www.xscape.co.uk/snow/braehead or call 0871 222 5672. 

Power boat trips – the people at Seaforce take children from as young as six months old on their high-speed boat rides down the River Clyde. Trips start from Glasgow city centre. Visit www.seaforce.co.uk or call 0141 221 1070  

Walking – perhaps begin gently with a trip to one of our many country parks. Clyde Muirshiel near Lochwinnoch in Renfrewshire is a great starting point, with a gentle stroll up to the top of Windy Hill enough to give toddlers and even old kids a real sense of achievement. Visit www.clydemuirshiel.co.uk or call 01505 614791 

Surfing – once your kids are strong enough swimmers, they’re ready to hit the surf, and Scotland is now being recognised as having some fantastic locations for waves. A company such as Momentum is a good place to start, with all the gear for hire and beginners’ lessons for nine-year-olds and up. Classes take place on the east coast, around Pease Bay and Coldingham beaches. Visit www.momentumsurfshop.com or call 07796561615 

Rock climbing – strictly speaking this is not an outdoor activity, because it’s using a climbing wall in a church in Ibrox, but it’s a lot of fun and could lead your kids into wanting to get out on the hills for real. The Glasgow Climbing Centre has a fully-superivsed “Rock Ratz” class for eight to 12-year-olds. Visit www.glasgowclimbingcentre.com or call 0141 427 9550 

Mountain biking – Scotland is now recognised as one of the best places in the world for mountain biking, so why not try and get your kids into it as soon as possible? If they are strong cyclists, there’s nowhere better to go for thrills than one of the 7Stanes mountain biking centres, located throughout the Borders. One of the best is at Glentress, near Peebles, which offers bike hire and a wonderful café too. Visit www.thehubintheforeset.co.uk or call 01721 721 736 

Highland Safaris – Fun-filled family 4WD safaris based out of Perthshire. Children aged five to12 help rangers track “wild” animals and their habitats complete with binoculars, a telescope and tracker eye spy sheets. There is also a deer park and a Wildlife Discovery Garden. They’ll even host your child’s party. Visit www.highlandadventuresafaris.co.uk or call 01887 820071 

Watersports – Loch Insh, in the shadow of the Cairngorm mountains near Aviemore, is the perfect place to introduce your kids to some water activities. From sailing, windsurfing, kayaking and fishing, to archery or just walking, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Visit www.lochinsh.com or call 01540 651272 

Water skiing – if your kids really want an adrenaline rush on the water, then Loch Ken in Dumfries and Galloway is the perfect place. They hold classes and before too long, you’ll be zooming along this beautiful loch. There are also inflatables to play with if the water skiing proves a bit too much. Visit www.lochken.com or call 0705 009 2792 

Whitewater rafting – yes, from the age of eight, the adrenalin junkies at Perthshire’s Nae Limits outdoor activities group will take a family on an easy trip down the River Tay. Visit www.naelimits.com or call 08450 178177 

Paintball – a group in Perthshire has come up with a form of paintball, without the pain, or the danger from being splattered by a paint bullet. Instead they use a safe red light which takes out opponents. If you need to make some money to pay for your visit, you can also go gold-panning. Visit www.perthshirepaintball.com or call 01887 829407 

Surf’s up North

The O'Neill Highland Open, the biggest professional Surfing event to be staged in the UK, will be taking place on 24th April to 1st May 2007. 144 of the world's top professional surfers will compete at the legendary Thurso East reef break. Thurso is the most Northern wave spot on the planet to host a professional surfing event and is one of the most consistent spots on the British Isles for producing long, winding right-hand tubes that spin off the reef.  

For further information www.oneilleurope.com/highlandopen/ 

Wildlife down South

Meet the mammals, watch the badgers and feed the kites. Loads of wild activities for the kiddies at the Dumfries and Galloway Wildlife Festival 31 of March through April 15. There will be nest-box building in Caerlaverock and a spring bug safari in Mersehead on April the 4th. Don’t miss the Easter Treasure Hunt which promises tasty treats in Dalbeattie on the 7th.  

For further information visit www.wildlifefestival.org.uk