Family-Fun for All Weathers in the South of Scotland

Come rain or shine, summer or winter, there’s nothing like a day out to get the family excited. Sometimes it can be hard coming up with new ideas to entertain your little cherubs but fear not – family fun starts here! We have rounded up some of the best activities and attractions in Dumfries & Galloway and the Scottish Borders that promise a great time, whatever the weather.

This part of Scotland is bursting with family-friendly activities, so plan your next day out within easy reach of Edinburgh, Glasgow and the North of England with our top picks. And if you’re still not sure, you can discover more family activities across the south of Scotland by downloading the Scotland Starts Here app and plan your next day out.

Make the Most of the Summer Heat

Are the heat waves getting the better of you? Time to make a splash – literally – or head to cooler heights. There’s plenty of options to cool off in the South of Scotland, from quiet beaches and forest trails, to holiday parks with all the amenities. But sometimes, adventure beckons and these locations offer the perfect day out.

Galloway Activity Centre

Location: Loch Ken, Dumfries & Galloway

On the shores of Loch Ken, on the edge of the Galloway Forest Park, the Galloway Activity Centre has outdoor activities galore! There’s everything from climbing to sailing, archery to laser tag, paddleboarding to mountain biking. A particular highlight is the wobbly waterpark that will see kids and grownups alike hopping and jumping across inflatables on Loch Ken. Alternatively, feel the wind in your hair with a boat tour on the loch, or by taking on the giant swing.

You can plan a half or full day out, mixing the variety of activities. With taster sessions on offer you can even try something new like wind surfing. There is also a handy dog-friendly cafe on site so you can grab something nourishing before you head out for the next activity. And if it’s all slightly too much action, take the boat service across Loch Ken for a walk or easy cycle.

GoApe Glentress

Location: near Peebles, Scottish Borders

Even the most daring families need to bring a head for heights at GoApe! Swing through the treetops of Glentress Forest and make sure to keep your balance along the aerial assault course. Freefall swings and Scotland’s highest – and one of the country’s longest – zip lines are sure to put your nerves to the test. Fly across the forest valley, the local mountain bike trails, and open water. You will never look at this part of Scotland the same.

Canoes, Kayaks and Coastal Adventures

Location: Various locations

With so many lochs, rivers and beaches to choose from, the South of Scotland is the ideal destination to soak up the summer sunshine. The Tweed Valley Canoe Trail offers shorter and longer stretches for a great day out. Biggar Adventure can deliver canoes to your chosen starting point, with owner Craig offering guided tours by arrangement. Perfect for those just starting out. Looking for a similar experience but with even more oomph? Active 4 Seasons offer river and sea kayaking near Langholm as well as from Kelso to Berwick-upon-Tweed and along the Berwickshire Coast, with guidance on more challenging set-ups.

Alternatively, drift along St Mary’s Loch by SUP or kayak, thanks to SUP Hire Scottish Borders, or get the adrenaline going at faster-flowing locations. Over in the south-west, Adventure Carrick offer fun days out with SUPs as well as coasteering and snorkeling adventures. It’s a great way to see what lies beneath the surface!

If the open water continues to call, how about a session at the Stranraer Watersports Hub. There are classes on wind surfing and even multi activity days especially for the school holidays. And if it’s those secret spots you’re looking for, join Galloway Canyoning for river tubing and canyoning adventures off the beaten track.

When you want to Escape the Rain or Cold

It can be wonderful to spend a day indoors, cosying up with loved ones to watch the rain or snow. But sometimes, planning a day out even when it’s wet and grey is the best way to beat cabin fever. Whether you’re looking to spark curiosity with hands-on activities, or want to keep dry in a museum, there’s lots of options for a good time.

Escape Room at Jedburgh Castle Jail

Location: Jedburgh

From the outside, Jedburgh Jail may look like a grand castle, but inside it’s a different story! Get a taste of what life was like in a Victorian prison. Walk through the original cell blocks and meet some of the inmates. Or join a guided tour with a costumed guide to step into one of the rarely seen areas of the prison.

A new addition to the site is the immersive escape room. Recommended for groups and families with older children, you will be tasked to solve the case of Malcolm Munro. Was he truly guilty? What clues will you uncover? It’s a race against time that requires team work and puzzle solving skills.

The Wee Pottery

Location: Kirkcudbright

What better way to spend a few hours than creating the perfect holiday memento? Head to the Wee Pottery in Kirkcudbright for a ceramic painting session. Take inspiration from the colourful Artists’ Town to decorate plates, bowls and figurines with stamps, sponges, and much more. Sessions usually last 2 hours but with free tea, coffee and home baking on offer for larger groups, there’s no need to hurry.

Smail’s Printing Works

Location: Innerleithen

Become a printer’s apprentice! Right on the High Street in Innerleithen, visitors can find the UK’s oldest working commercial letterpress. Join a tour and see the machines in action. Discover the waterwheel that once powered them, and marvel at the colourful examples of prints, posters and stationary created on site. Then, head to the Caseroom: Stocked with letters of various types and sizes, you can learn how to set your own print. It’s a fun, interactive tour that will make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time!

Museum Fun

Various Locations

There’s nothing like immersing yourself in fascinating stories at a museum. If you or your family are wowed by the speed of Formula 1, then a visit to the Jim Clark Motorsport Museum in Duns is a must. In the 1960s Jim Clark won the World Championships twice and The Times once named him the greatest Formula One driver of all time. Gathered in one place you can see videos of his races, his trophies and jump into the cockpit of a simulator to experience what it might be like to travel at speed!

If you’ve got older children studying the First World War, a visit to the The Devil’s Porridge Museum will give them a first hand insight into HM Factory Gretna. The largest munitions factory in the world during WWI, the site now houses fascinating displays and hands-on activities. Kids can dress up, climb aboard a World War 1 locomotive, and even explore a 1940 house display.

Looking to travel even further back in time? Trimontium Museum in Melrose offers a fascinating look at the Roman occupation of Britain, and the finds from the nearby fort site. Replicas are available for handling and touching, and a VR experience transports visitors into a 360-degree digital reconstruction of the Roman fort.

Did you know you can even head underground in one of our museums? Done a hard hat at the Museum of Lead Mining in Wanlockhead, before following a tour guide down one of the original mines.

For Darker Days and Evenings

Dark Space Planetarium

Where: Kirkcudbright

How about a trip to the edge of the universe to keep the family amused for the day? A virtual trip of course! Or maybe you want to explore the International Space Station? Its all possible at the Dark Space Planetarium. The immersive Planetarium domed cinema screen gives visitors the chance to feel like space is all around them. There are interactive exhibits such as trying on an astronaut’s gloves to understand the complexity of trying to work while wearing this protective equipment.

Freelance Ranger Tours

Location: Kirroughtree, Dumfries & Galloway

Join Elizabeth Tindal for one of her exceptional Darkness and Stargazing Experiences during the darker months of the year. Based in the Galloway Forest Park – a Gold Tier stargazing location – she focuses on visual stargazing. This means visitors will learn the skills to continue spotting constellations and stars long after they’ve returned home.

Beyond looking up, Elizabeth also offers sensory experiences to appreciate darkness and notice how nighttime affects our senses. Join her for a picnic in the dark, make dens or sit by the campfire to roast marshmallows as you learn about all that is happening around you.

Ghost Hunts and Tours with Mostly Ghostly

Location: In and around Dumfries, Dumfries & Galloway

Head out with the South of Scotland’s first paranormal investigation team! Offering a range ghost and local history tours, the team showcase exciting stories unique to the region. Whether you head down into the Crichton Crypt, follow the trail of local witches, or hear dark tales of our towns, prepare for chilling storytelling tours.

All Weather Highlights

The famous saying goes ‘there is no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothing‘. And who doesn’t love to pull on their wellies once in a while for jumping in puddles on a walk, meet farm animals throughout the seasons, or run around a playpark even as colder weather sets in. Adventurous kids will love heading outside on MTB trails in most weathers, and the right gear will see them hone their skills come rain or shine.

Farm Visits

Various locations

Don your all-weather clothing, get up close to animals and experience life on working farms. There’s so much to discover! Jacksons at Jedburgh is a mixed livestock farm with pigs, goats, sheep, cattle and Highland Cows – there are often seasonal events perfect for the youngest visitors. Kitchen Coos & Ewes in New Luce offers the chance to learn about Highland Cows, those most iconic of Scottish farm beasts. Take a tour and you will leave understanding how these animals live. Or join a special tour to groom and brush the resident moo-dels.

How about a tranquil walk and breathtaking views in the Cheviot Hills. Your companions? Tenzing, Monty, Caesar and their friends – the furry alpacas of Beirhope Farm, a family-run smallholding located right in the rolling hills of the Scottish Borders. There’s many activities to choose from: Whether you want a hike, a walk or a stroll, the alpacas are willing. And if the weather is less than cooperative you can opt for a Meet-a-Paca experience, feeding and cuddling the animals or enjoy your Paca-Picnic – overlooking the alpacas in the sunshine or in a covered area if it is a bit wet.

MTB Fun on the Trails

Location: Innerleithen, Glentress, Ae, Mabie, Newcastleton, Kirroughtree, Glentrool, Dalbeattie

The South of Scotland is the home of the bike and enthusiasts of all ages and abilities can celebrate this on the region’s trails. Mountain biking is a particular highlight here and the trail centres are perfectly suited for kids looking to start out, or families wanting to tackle the trails together. You do not have to be an experienced mountain biker to enjoy the famous 7stanes. Many of the sites offer cafes, bike hire, skills areas and MTB coaching, not to mention the tight knit MTB community. Locations like Glentress even offer kids sessions and meetups!

Looking to make a full holiday of it? MTB world champ Tracy Moseley recommends a tour of the 7stanes. Try and identify all the stone sculptures that give the sites their names while you’re out and about!

Adventure Playparks

Various Locations

Zip wires, slides, tyre swings, climbing frames, and more! Family fun is guaranteed in the many adventure parks in the South of Scotland. There’s lots of options to choose from, complete with cafes for a well-deserved lunch break. Head to Bowhill near Selkirk for fun times in their wooden fort. Or make your way to Ernespie Farm for their indoor and outdoor play areas. There’s giant bouncy cushions, tractor driving and even pedal karts.

At Drumlanrig Castle and Country Estate, the sprawling estate offers gardens, trails, cycle paths and an adventure park to explore. Plus, the courtyard next to the castle is home to small shops. Treat yourself and browse the crafts on offer. If the combination of trails, playparks, cafes and shops is exactly what you’re looking for, you will also love Harestanes near Jedburgh.

Walks for all and Active Travel Paths

Across the South of Scotland

Looking for an easy, family-friendly stroll? Whether you want to spend the full day outside or want a simple connection between towns and villages, there’s lots of options to choose from in the region. In the South of Scotland, active travel paths make it easy to walk, wheel and cycle between towns, while town trails and accessible routes offer great walks for shorter legs. Check out our section on walks for all for lots of choice.

Castles and Estates

Location: Various Locations

There’s nothing like declaring yourself king or queen of your own castle for the day. Let the kids run free among some of the stunning ruins in the South of Scotland, or marvel at the collections in some of the great houses of the region. Caerlaverock Castle near Dumfries is the ideal destination for those wanting to play at knights. Equally as exciting is Traquair in the Tweed Valley with its a massive maze! Look out for their medieval fairs and jousting tournaments during the summer for extra fun.

At Abbotsford near Melrose, the imagination can run wild. Kids can follow the house trail and learn about the stories created by writer Sir Walter Scott. Outside, his imagination is brought alive through Witch Corner – a woodland glen filled with mischievous characters.

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