We hope everyone has been enjoying the Autumn weather and all that comes with it! It’s the season where the days are becoming shorter and the weather has become a bit colder. Despite the change in season, there are still various activities and attractions that are perfect for a family holiday. Ranging from wildlife and country parks, to seal life aquariums and relaxing cruises. Since the October break is slowly approaching, I hope this blog post will give some inspiration into the various adventures to embark on for October half term!
Auchingarrich Wildlife Park
If looking to explore various wildlife, why not check out the Auchingarrich Wildlife Park. The wildlife park is located in Comrie, set in 100 acres with spectacular views over the Perthshire countryside. The Scott family have been operating the Auchingarrich Wildlife Park for over 11 years and they embrace the outdoor lifestyle. The wildlife park is the perfect holiday spot for families with a plethora of animals to explore and a play park filled with giant net swings, a seesaw sandpit and Rabbit warren tunnels. There’s also other fun activities such as mini golf and an indoor soft play barn along with the Torlum Coffee shop, which offers tasty snacks and meals.
Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park
Another amazing place to explore interesting and exotic animals is at the Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park. The park is located on a perfectly flat 160-acre state outside of Stirling. The park is one of Scotland’s most exciting family visitor attractions and is the perfect place for a family day out! There are plenty of fun ways of interacting with the animals such as through the Safari drive-thru all from the safety of your car. You can get up close and personal with rhinos, antelope, camels, the lion pride and monkey sin the macaque section. With over 300 animals, you can also visit them on foot and see eye to eye with the giraffes, lions and tigers. In addition to spotting various animals, there are also a plethora of fun and exciting activities such as boat trips round chimp island, sea lion shows, bird of prey displays, a wooden fort and pirate ship pedal boats.
Loch Lomond Sea Life Aquarium
In addition to exploring the various animal life on land, there is also some spectacular sea life that you can explore at the Loch Lomond Sea Life Aquarium. The aquarium is located on Loch Lomond shores at Balloch and gives an amazing glimpse into the underwater world. The sea life attraction contains an interactive rock pool and a tropical ocean tunnel which features animals such as the giant sea turtle. Some of the popular attractions include Sharks which have lived in their oceans for over 400 million years, Asian Short Clawed Otters named Lily, Pickle & Club, 500 different species of Rays and the Rockpool creatures full of incredible creatures.
Go Country Adventure Park
If wanting to embark on outdoor activities, a great place to check out is the Go Country Adventure Park. The adventure park is located on Loch Ard in the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park. The outdoor adventure centre prides themselves in providing a wide range of activities that suit everyone. All the activities range from adrenaline rush of cliff climbing, the thrill of gorge walking and the relaxation of the loch by canoe. There are a full range of outdoor activities such as quad biking, a unique waterpark, canoeing, climbing/abseiling, archery, mountain biking and much more. You can either participate in activities supervised by a qualifies instructor or hire your own equipment and explore the stunning location.
Loch Katrine Cruises
If looking to go on an adventure by the loch side, you might also like to go on Loch Katrine Cruises. Going on a cruise is a great opportunity to embrace the beauty of Loch Katrine by Callander on the famous steamship Sir Walter Scott. With many charms and rich heritage, Loch Katrine has won the hearts of countless visitors. It is truly one of Scotland’s special places. The “Sir Walter Scott” or known as the “Lady of the Lake”, has been a landmark here in The Trossachs for over 100 years. This is truly the best way to experience the beauty of Loch Katrine. There are various type of cruisers to choose from such as the 45 Minute Scenic Cruise, the Return 2 Hour Cruise, the Single 1 Hour Cruise and the 1 Hour Scenic Cruise.
Country Parks – The Ochil Hills Woodland Park
There also some great nature spots such as the Ochil Hills Woodland Park. Formerly a grand 17th century home, the former lordly estate now acts as an attractive woodland park that cuts through some of Stirlingshire’s finest scenery. The woodland park is located between Alva and Tillicoultry. The woodland park also contains a children’s play area, a number of picnic sites and also display boards that describe the former grandeur of the old estate.
