10 things to do for Easter half-term

Spring has truly sprung and Easter half-term is rapidly approaching. This is a truly magical time of year to visit the Borders and Dumfries and Galloway. Daffodils carpet the earth with their bobbing yellow heads, sunshine warms the air and the trees begin to don their verdant green coats. This year, there is more to do than ever before – so whether you want to hunt Easter eggs, see the region from the water or head out for an adrenalin-charged day, there is something in the South for the whole family.

Traquair House

Where: Innerleithen

When: 17 April 2022

The annual easter egg hunt at Traquair House is in its 20th year. Under-10s are invited to go searching for some of the 6000 mini eggs hidden in the estate’s Maze, while the Walled Garden plays host to an under-5s Egg Scramble! There are plenty of other activities on offer too. Perhaps you fancy a Scavenger Hunt or Spot the Egg in the House Competition. Get into the spirit and make an Easter Bonnet or a musical instrument! And if all that activity makes you hungry there are teas and ales (for the adults!) to sample in the Garden Café.

Threave Garden & Estate

Where: Castle Douglas

When: Friday 15 April – Monday 18 April

Easter Egg trails are running all through Easter weekend at Threave Garden. Children need to collect the clues, solve the puzzle and then pick up their chocolate confectionary. There’s no booking requirement and you might even get to see some red squirrels, although with squeals of joy ringing in the air, the squirrels may opt to hide too!

Paxton House

Where: Paxton, Berwick-on-Tweed

When: Saturday 16 April, 2022

Paxton House will play host to the Easter Extravaganza with a great assortment of fun activities for the day that will suit the whole family. Activities will include face painting, bouncy castles, ice cream van, boogie beats dance classes, pony rides, fairground rides, Easter games, arts and crafts and much more. The estate opens on 1st April so you have plenty of options to visit and see the 80 acres of woodland and riverside scenery that surround the house and take a tour of the house too.

Beirhope Alpacas

Where: Beirhope Farm, Kelso

When: 15-17 April & visits by arrangement

How about an Easter hunt with a difference? A four-legged cuddly difference in the form of an alpaca? Beirhope Alpacas are offering a great family activity this Easter weekend. You can meet and feed the alpacas, join an Easter egg hunt and have fun at the craft table making anything from an Easter card to a bird feeder. And just in case it’s a tad cool there will be hot chocolate to keep you all going. Of course you can also book one of their alpaca treks outside these dates – just email for appointments.

Eyemouth Rib Trips

Where: Eyemouth

When: From 1 April

There are two great options for getting out into the water this half-term. On the stunning east coast you can go fast or slow with Eyemouth Rib Trips which start for the season on 1st April and offer the chance to see the gorgeous Berwickshire coast line from the water.

Lighthouses of the Rhins tour

Where: Portpatrick

When: 12,15 April – then from June

Over in the west, you could be one of the first to experience the new Lighthouses of the Rhins tour by boat on The Optimist out of Portpatrick, open now for bookings for a couple of days before Easter. What a wonderful way to experience this rugged coastline. Regular trips will begin in early summer.

Go Ape

Where: Tweed Valley

What better way to see the Scottish countryside than being high up in the canopy? High-speed zips, free-fall Tarzan swings, and daring crossings, there is an action-packed adventure awaiting you at Go Ape in the Glentress Forest in the Tweed Valley. These tree top obstacles are the ultimate test of balance and nerve – everyone is sure to sleep well afterwards!

Galloway Activity Centre

Where: Loch Ken

Do you fancy experiencing a moment of weightlessness followed by the thrill of your life as you pull the release cord and fly? The Galloway Activity Centre has a giant 3G swing, the biggest in Scotland and guaranteed to make you go wheeeee! The swing is part of a climbing and high ropes half day. Instruction and equipment is all provided, you just need to take your nerve!

Cream o’ Galloway

Where: Rainton

Make your very own flavour of ice cream at this creative and informative workshop on site of this organic ethical dairy farm near Gatehouse of Fleet. This fun, hands-on activity at Cream o’ Galloway has become a huge success. Afterwards you can try out their ice cream parlour with over 20 different flavours to choose from and ice cream sundaes that reign supreme. There are plenty of picnic areas for you to relax and enjoy the Galloway countryside.

Dark Space Planetarium

Where: Kirkcudbright

Take a trip to outer space – or at least see what it would be like at the outer edges of our galaxy or onboard the International Space Station. It’s always good to have a rainy day option up your sleeve and a bit of star gazing at the Dark Space Planetarium is just the ticket. There is a domed cinema screen to give you an immersive experience whilst taking a trip through the solar system. And interactive exhibits let you get up close with the experiences of astronauts in space. This is definitely one for aspiring cosmonauts.