Scotland

Exploring Scotland: A Family Adventure

For many years, Scotland felt just a bit too far to travel with small children, so we kept putting it off for another time. Then my mum and her friend began exploring different parts of the country, and their stories inspired us to finally make the trip. They told us we’d love it — peaceful, scenic, and full of opportunities to connect with nature — and they were absolutely right.

Over time, we’ve visited a number of beautiful places: the areas around Newton Stewart, St Andrews, the Cairngorms, Gatehouse of Fleet, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Loch Lomond, to name a few. I hadn’t realised just how much of Scotland we’d explored until I started to list it all out!

We’ve enjoyed biking, walking, and discovering quiet spots along the way. Although we didn’t camp on these trips, we made great use of our day van — perfect for transporting bikes and keeping costs down with snacks and drinks on hand. While we usually ate out once a day, we found that bringing our own food helped us stick to a budget and meet our dietary needs.

Our trips to Scotland have been filled with adventure — from coastal explorations and forest biking trails to mountainous hikes and urban strolls. One place we've always meant to return to is the Dark Sky Park in Galloway Forest Park — a truly magical spot for stargazing and experiencing the beauty of the night sky without light pollution. The one constant? The weather can be unpredictable, so it’s best to come prepared for anything.