Auld Reekie is the perfect base to explore the West Lothian, East Lothian and Midlothian areas of Scotland. These suggestions are all a one hour (ish) drive away, and guaranteed to keep the clan busy all day.
We at Time Out aren't the only ones saving the day for parents this summer. Freddo, the adventure-loving cartoon frog, is all about seeking out fun and helping out his friends. You can experience Freddo's first ever comic and audiobook adventure – ‘The Missing Hop’ – by searching 'Missing Hop' on the iTunes store. Perfect for those long car journeys...
From alpacas to zebras, the list of residents at this sprawling safari park is simply exhausting. Plus: take a boat trip around Chimp Island and see what the residents are up to, and there’s a Wooden Fort play area right next to the lion enclosure so you can have a gander before going down a slide.
Stirling, FK9 4UR. www.blairdrummond.com
The beach! And an amazing outdoor play park! But that’s not all. There’s a designated barbecue site, for lunch, and some really magical grassland just off the sand that’s great for a spot of hide and seek. If you get a moment for quiet reflection, cast your gaze over the water to the island of Fidra, supposedly the inspiration for the book ‘Treasure Island’ by Robert Louis Stevenson.
North Berwick, EH39 5DD.
Guillemots, razorbills, cormorants, puffins and a variety of gulls can all be seen through the various telescopes and cameras available to use in the high-tech visitor centre. If you’re feeling adventurous, get the boat to Bass Rock (‘one of the wildlife wonders of the world’ – David Attenborough) to eyeball, and smell the quite remarkable stench of, the residents.
North Berwick, EH39 4SS. www.seabird.org
Summer is pick-your-own season, and a punnet or two of strawberries, raspberries, cherries, gooseberries or blackberries could be yours if you’re willing to put a bit of effort in. Afterwards, check out the happenings of the on-site pigs, piglets, chickens, horses, sheep and pygmy goats, before checking out the Nature Detective Trail up nearby Craigie Hill. The café, meanwhile, serves up an exemplary breakfast, and is famous for its jams and chutneys.
South Queensferry, EH30 9AR. www.craigies.co.uk
Anyone four and over can have a go at scaling a wall in Europe’s largest climbing arena. For the older and more nimble there’s bouldering, abseiling and aerial assault courses, and for toddlers a playroom called Rock Tots which is full of puzzles, books and a bouncy castle. If none of this takes your fancy, check out Honey Pot Creative Café in the same building for some arts and crafts workshops, a creative play session (painting, stamping, sticking) and some tea and cake.
South Platt Hill, EH28 8AA. www.edinburghleisure.co.uk
