Fed up of seeing your kids glued to the TV Screen or IPad?
Days seem to disappear when there is washing to be done and the house needs cleaned, it just feels like the easy option. The thing is though, that these days can run into weeks during the school holidays as you feel like you are going round in circles cleaning up after the kids!
Solution?
Get them out the house!!
In the second of our “Things to Do in Dundee and Angus series” we take a look at a list of outdoor activities that will have the kids running off steam rather than driving you batty in the house and get them away from that damn IPad!
Outdoor activities for Kids in Dundee & Angus
1 Farms visits
See the animals, explore the parks, learn how real farms work.
Newton Farm
Website: Newton Farm
This farm hosts tours that allow you to see what life is truly like on a Scottish farm. They also provide a unique alpaca walking experience and this tour includes refreshments. A totally different day out, which the whole family can enjoy. Just make sure if you’re visiting here, you book ahead!
Charleton Farm – Fruit farm
Website: Charleton Farm
Charleton Farm has a large park area, which caters for kids of all ages. From toys and climbing frames suited to small children to a large castle climbing area, mazes and go karts, there truly is something for everyone. There’s plenty of picnic benches so you can grab a bite to eat or have a quiet coffee while the kids run wild in the enclosed park area. The cafe offers delicious fresh produce with their strawberry tart being their crowning glory!
Charleton Farm is unique, due to its ‘pick your own’ fruit experience. Which allows you to pick your own strawberries, raspberries and blueberries during the summer paying for what you pick at the end.
Murton Farm
Website: Murton Farm
Murton Farm has many great activities for kids to enjoy including an adventure trail, sand pit, and outdoor games. You can also visit the star attractions, the two Kune Kune pigs, as well as the many small animals and birds that the farm hosts. They have also recently extended their tea room, perfect for lunch or grabbing a coffee. Check out their Facebook page for upcoming kids and adult classes they have running
Dalmore Croft
Website: Dalmore Croft
Dalmore Croft Farm located in Barry, just outside Carnoustie makes the perfect day out for families. Here you can join in a farm walk, learn about small scale farming and meet the animals. They sell fresh produce and flower cuttings; they also offer courses for those that are interested in learning more about farm life.
Peel Farm
Website: Peel Farm
Situated at the bottom of the Angus Glens, Peel Farm shop offers home-made food in the coffee shop, unique gifts from the gift shop and fresh produce which you can buy in the shop. There’s also a nature trail which includes a pond, where you can stop and feed the ducks.
2 Cultural Activities
Explore, learn and get to know the history of our local area
Kerr’s Miniature Railway, Arbroath
Website: Kerr’s Miniature Railway
The oldest miniature railway in Scotland! Located along the Arbroath beachfront, your kids will love the trip along the track. Open at the weekends there are also miniature buses, fire engines and vehicles which you can ride.
Glamis Castle, Glamis
Website: Glamis Castle
Glamis Castle is located just outside Forfar within the village of Glamis and is fondly referred to as the country’s most beautiful Castle. Their expert guides will help you follow in the footsteps of Mary, Queen of Scots, James V, Bonnie Dundee, the Old Jacobite Pretender to the throne James VIII, the ill-fated Janet Douglas and of course tell the story of the bitter-sweet life of Mary Eleanor Bowes.
As well as the Castle they run a host of events in their grounds including:
* Open Cinema Events
* Scottish Transport Extravaganza
* Glamis Country Fair
House of Dun
Website: House of Dun
The House of Dun can make a great day out, with a free park and lots of nature trails you can spend the whole day exploring here and only pay for parking! If you want to explore the Georgian House though which has been beautifully restored to its period along with the manicured walled gardens then you must pay a small entrance fee. Thirsty? The home also has a small, family friendly café.
Dunninald Castle and Gardens
Website: Dunninald Castle
Dunninald Castle and Gardens is situated just outside Montrose and offers guided tours which leads you through the history of the building and of the family who lived there. The walled garden is the perfect place to explore along with the woods, which are carpeted with flowers from May through to Summer.
Camperdown Wildlife Park
Website: Camperdown Wildlife Park
Camperdown Wildlife Park in Dundee hosts all sorts of animals including eagles, lemurs, otters and a brown bear. You can book into sessions such as ‘to be a zookeeper’ or ‘get up close’ which gives you and the kids a unique experience with the animals! There’s a cafe, so you can stop and refresh whilst taking in all the different animals, plus the playpark mentioned earlier is only a 2 minute walk away.
3 Sporting Activities
Sail, climb, surf all day
Looking for action? A lot of sports centres will run clubs during the holidays to keep the kids occupied for a few days so keep an eye on your tennis clubs and sports halls. We’ve listed out some fabulous sports centres which will have your children talking about the experience for weeks.
Sup 2 Summit – Paddleboarding & climbing
Website: Sup 2 Summit
Sup 2 summit is an outdoor activity company, which works between Aberdeen and Dundee offering Paddleboarding and rock climbing adventures. There is a minimum age of 8 required for all activities, with all children under 18 requiring supervision. James and his team runs a schedule of classes out the Montrose Basin and Catterline shore as well as rock climbing based in Kirriemuir.
Foxlake, Dundee
Website: Foxlake, Dundee
Ever fancied a shot on Wipe out the TV show? Foxlake is a brilliant activity centre located right in the heart of Dundee at the City Quay. Whether you fancy wakeboarding, ringo rides or a shot on the adventure aqua park – your adrenaline will be pumping and you’ll be smiling from ear to ear! If they fall in love with the sport, why not enquire about their holiday camps!
Auchterhouse Country Sports
Website: Auchterhouse Country Sports
This sports facility located near Coupar Angus, is one of the top places for clay pigeon shooting, and yes there are childrens taster courses . They also offer a range of other activities from go karting, of road driving and archery. They have a cafe on site, so you can take your older kids, watch them get muddy and enjoy themselves, whilst you enjoy a nice coffee!
Bedlam Paintball
Website: Bedlam Paintball
Paintball brings back memories of hen and stag parties but Bedlam offer a fantastic range of activities for kids too including Lasertag and SplatMaster. Laser tag uses infra-red lights to create an interactive game outside where you duck, dive and advance at your competitors. Alternatively SplatMaster is a low velocity version of paintball which uses fragile paint bullets that are easy to load and fire. If you have a keen gamer in your family, this could be a great way to entertain them for a day with their friends.
Monikie Park
Website: Monikie Park
This Country Park has an adventure play park, perfect for kids to blow of steam. This Park also has self led trails, guided trails and the option barbecue hire. The biggest attraction of the park is the 50 acre watersports site where you can take part in a number of water activities including windsurfing and sailing. And as it has a restaurant open throughout the summer, it can make the perfect day out on a sunny day.
Monikie Park has camps running throughout the holidays where kids over 8 years of age can enjoy three days of fun filled activities including: windsurfing, sailing, kayaking/canoeing, paddleboarding, rafting, team-building, high ropes, mountain biking.
4 Head to an Outdoor Playpark
Dip in the paddling pool, have a picnic and go wild on the outdoor climbing frames and swings.
Brechin Castle Centre, Countrypark
Website: Brechin Castle Centre
The Country Park has recently gone through a complete transformation, they do now charge an entrance fee but you have the option to bring your own picnic if you want to keep the costs down.
Star attractions include a Fairy Trail, Combine Play, Wooden Maze, Giant Sandpit, Go Karts, Sledge Run, Jumping Pillows, Barrel Train, Dragon’s lair play park and tractor courtyard.
Once you’ve done running around the centre also has an indoor shop, garden centre and café, which is a great back up option if the weather changes.
Arbroath West Links Fun Park
Website: Arbroath West Links Fun Park
This Arbroath fun park has so much for your kids to get involved with! Hosting a variety of equipment for all ages and abilities this park spans 0.4km of the Arbroath Harbour. As well as the traditional climbing frames, slides and swings it also has a separate skate park. Activities such as mini- golf or mini racing cars, do come at an extra cost, but there is enough free activities to keep the kids entertained for hours.
Sea Front Splash, Montrose
Website: Sea Front Splash, Montrose
The Sea Front splash hosts four main activity areas;
- A small park, designed so that you can let the younger toddlers run off steam within a secure gated area
- An enclosed sand park for younger kids with small water fountain, boat and slide.
- A large park with multiple climbing frames, flying foxes, sand diggers and swings
- A large paddling area, which is fabulous for cooling off on a sunny day so don’t forget to pack the bathers!
Carnoustie Sandy Sensation
Website: Carnoustie Sandy Sensation
Carnoustie park provides wooden playgrounds for both younger and older children. It also has a large splash area and paddling pool as well as a crazy golf course and tennis courts. It makes a great day out on a sunny day, just make sure to bring your towels!
Broughty Castle Play Park
Website: Broughty Castle Play Park
Broughty Ferry playpark is right next to the castle and beach, making it an action packed day trip. There’s large wooden climbing frames, swings and slides. There’s also little kiddie-cars, crazy golf and a water feature for the kids to enjoy. I’d advise nipping round to vissochi’s afterwards for one of their award winning ice creams!
Camperdown Country Park
Website: Camperdown Country Park
Camperdown Park in Dundee is situated near the wildlife park. It is so huge that they’ve zoned it into four separate areas and they’ve just transformed the area where the motorised boats used to float. There is equipment such as slides, climbing nets, and suspension bridges. During the summer holidays and weekends the tuck shop is usually open selling refreshments and ice creams.
Crombie Park
Website: Crombie Park
Crombie Park in Arbroath has 200 acres of woodland, situated around the loch. You can enjoy woodland trails, learn about the history of Crombie and spot wildlife. There is an adventure play area perfect for kids. There’s also an orienteering course available all year, with a junior course perfect for kids. Facilities within the park include a barbecue/picnic area, a visitor centre and a ranger service.
For more information on Free Activities visit: Things to do In Dundee & Angus : Free Kids Activities (link to blog)
Outdoor activities for Kids in Dundee & Angus
Getting active in the great outdoors is just what the doctor ordered! Whether that is splashing in puddles, paddle-boarding or taking part in a farm walk.
The changeable Scottish weather can put people off, but as long as you have the right clothing with you the kids will not care one bit -It is just us adults that usually need a bit of convincing!!
Looking for more ideas ?
Things to do In Dundee & Angus : Free Kids Activities
Things to do In Dundee & Angus: Indoor Activities