Child friendly Activities on the NC500
After putting together a list of pet friendly pubs and
places I thought we could do with having a list of places that children would enjoy. I
have three children of my own and have spent many holidays up here in the Northern Highlands so I will add a few to
get us started.
If you can think of more to add, please send me a message and I
will update this list for all the parents looking for helpful ideas to keep their little monkeys happy around the NC500 route. I am happy to answer specific questions in the FB group so post away if you want to know more.
Pony Trekking
We have done this a few times with the Gairloch Trekking Centre. They are now based at Red Point beach and I can highly recommend them. They cater for all ages and abilities and my kids have had many wonderful rides on the ponies at Flowerdale. They relocated in 2015 to be able to offer amazing beach rides. There are other trekking centres on the route so check out the list below.
Pony Trekking near Gairloch
Pony Trekking near Inverness
Zip Wire at Ceannabeinne Beach
Do you want to jump off from the top of the 37 meters high coastal cliff and enjoy the flight next to the Atlantic Ocean high across one of the most beautiful beaches in Northern Highlands with speeds up to 40 mph?
It is a fun and thrilling zip lining experience in really unique and spectacular location. The cost is £15 per person and anyone can have a go at this, the youngest so far was three years old! There is a minimum weight of 23kg
No booking is required. Just come and have a go during their opening hours 10AM-6PM. Although please remember that all zip line operations are extremely weather dependant so they can open the site only then the weather conditions allow. You can follow them on their Facebook Page
www.facebook.com/goldeneagleziplines/ to check the daily updates about opening. If it is raining or too windy they post on Facebook to let you know when they are opening etc and they respond really quickly to messages too.
Personal Review: My kids went on the Zip wire and absolutely loved it! The staff were great and very friendly too. I cannot recommend this activity highly enough. What a fantastic way to get a birds eye view of the stunning
Ceannabeinne beach below! They voted it the best activity on the NC500 in 2018.
Smoo Caves Durness
Smoo Cave is fully accessible 365 days a year public access with a walkway into the waterfall chamber, free of charge. The cave is unique within the UK in that the first chamber has been formed by the action of the sea, whereas the inner chambers are freshwater passages, formed from rainwater dissolving the carbonate dolostones. Partway through the cave the waters of Allt Smoo also drop in as a 20 metre high waterfall.
This cave is not far from Ceannabeinne Beach where the zip wire is located so you can do both these activities in one day. The Smoo Cave is free to enter but if you want to take a boat further into the caves then you will have to pay a fee.
We stayed at
Sango Sands camp site and did a few activities in the area. You will need to book a pitch as it is a very popular site with families. The beach below the camp site is perfect for body boarding and surfing and we ended up staying two nights here as the kids loved this part of the NC500 so much.
Surfing and Body Boarding
There are endless beaches on the route as you are never far from the coast so if you have room, take a couple of boards with you and the kids can spend hours in the water splashing around.
For safety reasons with younger children I would recommend choosing a beach with flat shallow sand that gently slopes into the sea.
Big Sand Beach near Gairloch is a favourite of ours, and Durness had the "best waves" according to Harry who was ten when he surfed there last year. We no longer bother with wetsuits as our kids are now used to cold Scottish waters!
Animals and Farm Activities
Tour a farm in an off road buggy! Launched last year in April at Kirkton farm in Melvich is an activity with a difference. Tour a Highland Farm in an off road buggy where you will get an opportunity to see sheep, highland cows, deer, grouse and other native wildlife. Keep an eye out for that lesser spotted haggis! Lambing takes place in March, April and May and the reviews for
this tour are very good. We are hoping to stop here soon.
The tour lasts for around an hour and a half and the buggy can seat four passengers. 3 adults and one child. All the seats have safety belts and helmets are provided and must be worn. Warm clothing recommended. They do provide light waterproof clothing if needed and the tour is fully insured. For more information or to book a tour please telephone 07857 423843. They also have a
Facebook Page so read the excellent reviews for yourself. Looks like a lot of fun!
Puffin Croft is at John O Groats. It is a Petting Farm where you can meet the friendliest animals in the Highlands! It costs just £3 for children and £3.50 for adults to visit. In the spring you may get a chance to bottle feed one of their adorable lambs.
They are are open everyday between 10am and 5pm in summer and in winter they close at dusk. They also have a lovely farm shop selling home baked cakes, jams and chutney as well as farm fresh fruit and vegetables.
Puffin Croft, John O'Groats, KY1 4YS
Telephone - 01955611775
Dolphins at Chanonry Point
This is another excellent highlight for kids doing the NC500. If you time your visit right you will see the dolphins coming in on the tide to feed.
If you come from Inverness take the A9 and cross the Kessock Bridge, then follow the signs for Black Isle and Fortrose. In Fortrose follow the signs for Chanonry Point and Golf Club. The funny thing is that you actually have to drive over a golf course (beware of golf balls) to get to the end of this spit of land extending into the Moray Firth.
The Parking area near the lighthouse is extremely limited which causes congested roads and occupied parking spaces. Chanonry Point is easily accessed from both Fortrose and Rosemarkie by foot along the shore (with paths if the tide is in.) Both villages have parking and facilities. So it’s better to leave the car at the beginning of the road and either walk to Chanonry Point along the shore.
Museums
There are some great museums along the route and if you check their events you can often find activity days that are great for kids.
This is a picture of my daughter Isabelle at the Gairloch Heritage Museum. They had a lovely lady from Applecross, Margaret who showed our children how to spin wool. This museum takes you on a journey through time showing how local people lived and worked in Gairloch through the ages.
I have found that the staff in most of these little museums are more than happy to help offer advice on the local area that you are visiting. They have a wealth of information to share so do pop in and support them with a visit and get to know more about each area you visiting. Most places have special areas and activities for children to explore. Check out the list below for links to some of the museums along the route.
The Screen Machine
The screen machine is a cinema that visits rural locations including a few villages on the NC500 route. If you are lucky enough to be in one of these places when it visits then I highly recommend this for an evening activity with the kids. Screen Machine is an 80-seat air conditioned, digital mobile cinema which brings the latest films to rural area of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.
We took our three children to see Incredibles 2 at the screen machine when it stopped in Lochinver Harbour last August and we had a fantastic evening. It was a packed house and a great experience. Screen Machine is funded by Creative Scotland and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and is further supported by Caledonian MacBrayne.
The screen machine stops in Balintore, Golspie, Lairg, Bettyhill, Durness, Kinlochbervie, Lochinver, Achiltibuie, Ullapool, Gairloch, Torridon, Lochcarron and Dornie near Eilean Donan Castle.
Wyvis Natural Play Park
Find tranquility at Little Garve, wander through the gentle woodland beside the swirling Black Water river and remember that this peaceful place once pulsed with the sounds of cattle and soldiers.
One of the two arched stone bridges on the circular trail was built by the army, and drovers (cattle herders) later rested thousands of animals here on the long walk to southern markets. Today only birdsong and river music break the peace.
Just across the bridge you’ll find a fabulous new play park, looked after by the Wyvis Natural Play Park Group.
To get to the play park from the south: Take A835 towards Ullapool, go past the village of Garve, past the left A832 turning to Kyle & Gairloch, PAST the 1st right turning to Little Garve and continue on the main road until you see the large Forestry Commission Scotland sign to Little Garve, PICTURED TOP LEFT.
Turn right here and follow the signs to the car park. Walk over the old bridge, turn right and the park is a few yards down on your left.
Alternatively, those wanting to take in the spectacular 2 mile circular walk can park at the larger Silver Bridge car park (with toilets) just a few minutes further north on the A835 and take the path (east side has been upgraded so is better for buggies).
You can park and picnic at both ends of this circular trail, in Little Garve and in Silverbridge. There are public toilets at nearby Garve village hall and also at Rogie Falls (summer only). You'll find other toilets, shops and places to eat in Strathpeffer and Dingwall.
Swimming Pools
If the weather is too cold or too rough for swimming in the sea then why not take the kids to an indoor swimming pool on the route.
We are including a list of small local swimming pools here to help you find one on your travels. Check the map bottom left to see the locations where you can find a swimming pool (click to enlarge the map)
North Caithness Leisure Centre in Bettyhill
East Caithness Community Facility in Wick
Sutherland Swimming Pool in Golspie
Inverness Leisure Centre
Gold Panning in Helmsdale
The technique of gold panning requires some skill and a lot of patience but it is fairly easy to pick up the basics and start your hunt for treasure. You are unlikely to pay off your mortgage with your findings as nuggets are extremely rare and, if you do find gold, it is most likely to be in the form of specks and very small flakes. However, for most, the fun is in the process of looking for gold and we’re sure that you and your family will enjoy sploshing about in the burn, regardless of whether you strike it lucky!
A gold panning outfit including gold pan, riddle, trowel, instruction leaflet pipette and canister for the findings costs just £5 per day to hire from the visitor centre, pans can be bought outright as well. This activity is particularly popular with children.From 2018 permits have been introduced. Permits may be purchased from The Garrison in Helmsdale Harbour and The Belgrave Arms. The fee is £10 per day per person for a permit. Children under 16 free of charge. 16 to 18 yrs and concessions £5. More information is available on our
Helmsdale Page.
Kayaking
There are many places where you can do this and some are suitable for children or beginners. We have our own inflatable Kayak but you can hire better ones in the larger towns around the route or even take a class or a day trip with an organised provider.
When out sea kayaking, under the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, you must take responsibility for your own actions on and off the water.
For those who have no experience or looking at venturing into unknown waters, a professional guiding service is advisable. Below are a few links to get you started.
Gairloch Canoe and Kayak Centre
Liquid Footprints
Sea Kayak Plockton
Ridgway Adventure Ardmore
Explore Highland
Boat Trips and Wildlife Cruises
There are many opportunities to get on a boat and see some wildlife on the NC500 route. Some species are more likely at certain times of year than others but there are a wide variety of boat trips, cruises and even shellfish safaris throughout the year and children will definitely enjoy these.
Shellfish Safaris Badachro near Gairloch
Calum's Seal Trips in Plockton
Caithness Seacoast in Wick
Kylesku Boat Tours
Seascape Summer Isles Expeditions in Ullapool
Shearwater Summer Isles Cruises in Ullapool
Ice Skating
At Inverness Ice Centre public skating sessions are available all year round. They have over 300 pairs of skates available in a wide range of sizes to suit the smallest of feet to the largest!
Adults - £10 or £14.50 with skate hire
Children - £8.25 or £12 with skate hire
Under 5's - £3.75 or £7.50 with skate hire
Family - 4 all with skate hire £39.00
Penguin - Skating Aids are available. 'Henderson & Bishop' are kid friendly skating companions which are available to hire - 30 minutes - £3.00.
Hunt for the Loch Ness Monster
Discover the history of Loch Ness from the ice age to the third millennium in a seven room, themed, automated walk through. Explore the history of the loch and the many mysteries and explorations that have surrounded its past. Learn about the rumours, the hoaxes and the truths and discover what may really live in Loch Ness.
Using a highly effective mixture of animations, lasers and special effects, visitors can experience the history of the monster by exploring Scotland’s geological past and folklore. Find out what has been discovered and what research has been done and view some of the actual equipment used to explore and navigate the Loch.
During the summer season, book a boat trip aboard the Deepscan and begin your own adventure of discovery to see what lurks beneath the water.
http://www.lochness.com/cruises.aspx
The Loch Ness Centre & Exhibition,
Drumnadrochit,
Inverness,
Highlands,
IV63 6TU
Fishing
Scotland’s reputation as an excellent fishing destination dates back to at least the 19th century, when it became fashionable for wealthy English tourists to come up to Scotland on their holidays for a bit of hunting, shooting and fishing. Today, the fishing in Scotland is still world class – but it is no longer the preserve of the wealthy alone.
Although there is plenty of good coarse fishing in Scotland, it is really the fly fishing that attracts most people. There is superb fishing for salmon and then there is the wild brown trout found in rivers and lochs throughout the country. Some of the camp sites on the route with rivers running through them will even allow you to fish for free if staying with them.
Ice Cream!
No trip around the NC500 would be comlete without an ice cream from Capaldi's in Brora and Golspie. Alfredo Capaldi came from Picinisco in Italy in the 1920's. His father Barnardo Capaldi had an ice cream cafe in Kingussie.
Alfredo ventured further North to Brora where he met his future wife, Bertha, and they began the business in 1929. In the early 1950's Alfredo's wife Bertha swapped it with her brother in law Victor Capaldi who moved the shop into its present location on the A9.
The Brora shop is open from 10am to 9pm in the summer months. You can find the Brora shop on Fountain Square, Brora KW9 6NX. The luxury dairy ice cream is made locally in Brora and is available in 24 delicious flavours! We haven't tried them all yet, but we're trying our best!
There is another shop in Golspie called "The Wee
Pink Shop" where you can get a Capaldi's ice cream too. You can find it on the left side of the A9 as you drive North through Golspie.
They also sell tray bakes, milkshakes, brownies and waffles.
...And lots more too!
This is just a taste of what is available and there are many more activities which are entirely free like rock pooling, building sand castles, snorkelling and hill walking. There are lochs, mountains, beaches and waterfalls to explore.
There is an abundance of wildlife on the route and as a family we have seen hundreds of seals, many golden eagles, two pine martens and even a white tailed sea eagle which was magnificent! The highland rangers regularly run walks and activities and you will find these listed in the events in our
facebook group.
I hope that we have given you a few ideas to keep your children happy on the route and please do leave a comment if you know of other activities that I haven't included as I am happy to update this list with new recommendations. Above all, have fun on your family adventure, take only memories and leave only footprints...
This page was updated on 8th August 2023
