Nairn and Thereabouts!

We're off to a self-catering cottage a little outside Nairn from 16-23 June.

Looking for suggestions for child/family-friendly things to do as have two girls ages 3 and 1.  We will have a car for transport.

Any expats around there care to meet up?

Older girl will be having her 4th birthday on 19 June so we're definitely going to be taking her out for her big day.

 

Hi Expat

I have only been to Nairn once but there is a lovely beach with a great playpark at one end.

If you come to Inverness there is a fantastic park for kids by the river called Whin Park, which as well  as the usual kinds of swings (about 6 different kinds of those), slides etc there is also a boating lake and a little train that goes around one half of the park.  It's also close to canal walks and a big aquadome.

There is also the well known Bught Park but I haven't been there yet so don't know what is there.  Maybe Kathleen or someone else knows.

Most cafes etc we have taken Ethan into around here have been very child friendly, and in fact we found a great family pub in Nairn, I'll have to check the name of it, but they have a special kids menu with decent food on it (ie, some things were not deep fried!).  There were loads of kids there the day we went.

There are also various kid orientated places like Bumbles and Bogbain Farm in the area, again haven't personally checked them out yet.

http://www.gotobumbles.co.uk/
http://www.bogbainfarm.com/

Be great to meet up!

There are so many places to go.  Cawdor castle and grounds, Rosemarkie beach on the Black Isle is my favorite, Roseile (sp?) beach has WW II defense things, great forest walks, the Findhorn Foundation is just on the other side of Forres,  they have a great cafe, organic fruit/veg.  you can get there.  If the weather isn't so great, there is an indoor play place called Bumbles in Auldern in an old stone barn.  Not the best, but they can run and play, they have rabbits in one of the barns, tricycle tracks etc. Brodie Castle and grounds are supposed to be nice, but I haven't made it there yet.   

A meet up would be good if you have time.  I work every weekend, so during the week would be better for me.

I hope the weather is good while you are up here.  There are so many stunning places out doors to see. 

Can I just say?

JEALOUS!

Forgot to add the Clootie Well outside Munlochy on the Black Isle.  It's a bit freaky, but worth driving to if you are out that way.  Reminds me a bit of the Blair Witch Project.    There is also a wild life park on the Black Isle, overpriced in my opinion, but an option. There are several forrestry walks in that area.  There is the Fairy Glen just near Rosemarkie Beach that is lovely.  Also, just outside of Inverness is the Clava Cairns. Again, I wouldn't drive to it, but if you are nearby, it is worth having a wander through. 

I second Winn park.  It's big, just been refurbished, just a bit of a scary place with a toddler (in my opinion) as the boating lake thing is open all around.  Jonah is forever giving me a fright with that. 

Auldern has a huge fruit farm that you can go pick your own fruit, there is a shop to buy lovely veg there too.  They have some trampolines and a few play things set up there.  It is closed now, but I think it opens the first part of June. 

Oh, there are so many things to do, I can't wait until I don't have to work every weekend and can get back to doing fun things!

That boating lake can be a bit of a worry, I agree.

There's also a Clootie Well in the forest in Culloden, it's totally Blair Witch.

Oh and mustn't forget the Battlefield, although there's not a lot for small kids there. Nice scones in the cafe though!! The Clava Cairns that Kathleen mentions are somewhere near there I believe.

A little further afield at Aviemore there's a steam train ride, we just did that last week, it was pretty cool. I think there are a few other places around the Highlands where you can go on a steam train too.

 

Oh, thanks!  This all sounds so exciting!  I've already got a packing list all done, as we'll be in self-catering cottage.

Definitely want to hit the beach as Aillidh and I enjoy hunting for sea glass.

Tons of sea glass around the lighthouse at Chanonry Point in Fortrose right next to Rosemarkie.  Sophia and I have collected a jar full over the years.

Hi expat

Not exactly close to Nairn but on Royal Deeside outside Aberdeen is StoryBook Glen.

It's a huge expanse of land in a glen with non-moving attractions such as Thomas the Tank, Mother Goose Nursery Rhyme things. OK for a day out for toddlers.

All my kids loved it. Not real exciting but fun for them. Worth an afternoon, depending on how you are travelling, ie A9 or A96 through Aberdeen.

Hope the weather is good for ya'll.

My next door neighbours are leaving for Nairn in the morning!   It sounds really nice.