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No matter how much you look forward to spending time together as a family, it can be difficult to find new things to do which keep everyone happy. This is especially true in winter when the dark nights and chilly mornings often make the allure of a duvet day more tempting than venturing outside. There's lots of great places right on our doorstep in Perthshire so why not plan a few days out together this winter and get them in the diary- here's some ideas to inspire you. We'd love to hear what you get up to!
Perthshire is full of fantastic workshops and performances designed for kids and families. Check out our family 'What's On' section> for what's coming up!
Dewars Centre have invested in Olympic Standard ice which means they have a great programme of ice skating open to everyone! People of all ages and abilities can go along (even as a non-member) to skate on various different dates in December through to March - just check their timetable below. They even have little penguins which help keep kids upright while learning to skate!
Snow Babes lessons for 2-5 year olds, and skating lessons for aged 5 upwards are available to book on Sundays throughout the winter; both are coached sessions taken by qualified instructors and the family are welcome to come along and watch.
Live Active also offer a ‘Skate and Swim’ ticket where you can go swimming at Perth Leisure Pool in the morning, have lunch in the café there or at Dewars then spend the afternoon on the ice.
Whether you’ve never skated before or already have the hang of it this is a great family activity! You can download the Live Active Skating programme with their full timetable for public skating, classes and prices here.
It's a great time of year to get round to all those little jobs around the house you've been meaning to do, and sprucing up your children's bedrooms is usually on that list! One of our Small City readers and fully qualified interiors guru Aishling O’Sullivan has given us her top tips to help parents update those rooms without blowing the budget (or a gasket). Loads of the ideas are things the kids can get involved with so go on...get creative! Read Aishling's tips here>>
Perthshire Wildlife is a small local company that runs guided wildlife walks and tours; with this they help to connect locals and holiday makers to the beautiful Perthshire countryside and the amazing wildlife that lives here.
Fancy a Private Beaver Safari with your family to spot these wonderful animals in the wild in Perthshire? Or a Wildlife Eco-tour to enjoy your favourite wildlife of the area? Then Danielle is your woman! (She's also been one of our Big Personalities - read her story here>>>)
If you let her know where you want to go and what species you’d like to see, Perthshire Wildlife will organise your itinerary- I love this brilliant idea for all the animal lovers out there!
GALLERY
The National Trust for Scotland has a diverse range of sites in Perth & Kinross for you to enjoy at any time of year, how many have you been to?
A stunning location with its Munros and special species of arctic-alpine plants makes this place one of Scotland’s top walking locations. Through the summer months the rangers share their expertise on guided walks and special events looking at the area’s wildlife, plants and archaeology.The site is free to visit, there is car parking charge.
On the banks of the River Braan this woodland site has some of Scotland’s tallest trees. Ossian’s Hall, a picturesque folly, overlooks the Black Linn Falls. In the summer, the Rangers’ team runs a range of family-friendly events like den building workshops! The site is free to visit, there is a car parking charge.
A magnificent wooded gorge and site of Special Scientific Interest. Although tranquil now, on 27 July 1689 it echoed with the sound of gunfire when a Jacobite army led by ‘Bonnie Dundee’ defeated government forces. The on-site visitor centre is open from 1 April to 1 November. Otherwise the site is open all year round and is free to visit. There is a car parking charge.
A picturesque combination of water and woodland and home to a rich variety of wildlife. Take a wander over the Garry Bridge and look out for an obelisk marking Queen Victoria’s visit in 1844. The site is open all year round for free. Parking is free.
It’s a landmark in the Small City but when was the last time you popped your head into Perth Museum? There’s easy access for buggies and ample space to either store or steer them round the galleries. They are breastfeeding-friendly and have changing facilities in both male and female toilets.
Entry is completely FREE and families are encouraged to explore all of the galleries, with a variety of trails and interactive exhibits on offer (not to mention the gift shop - I do love a gift shop!) to keep little ones entertained.
There is a dedicated play area in the Natural History section, where you’ll find the art cart, a video microscope, model dinosaurs, wildlife puppets, books and dressing up.
The Museum regularly run free craft sessions and other educational and fun events which help families get the most out of the exhibition programme.
A personal favourite of mine - I’ve rediscovered the joy of going to the library since having Freya.
Anyone who lives, works or studies in Perthshire can join the library for free and then use their card to borrow items from any of the 13 community libraries and access online resources like e-books, magazines and music.
The kids activities are amazing and regular readers will know Freya LOVES Rhymetime. You can download a list of locations, times and days from our Baby Classes Column.
Over the last three years we've visited Scone Palace so many times Freya's beginning to think of it as a second home (she has delusions of grandeur - like her mother). It's open Fri-Sun throughout the winter (except Jan), where access to the grounds is completely free. There's loads to explore - from woodlands to the playpark (complete with ride on tractors and a 'flying fox') and the brilliant maze.
The cafe is a welcome stop to warm up over a hot chocolate or one of their famous scones although the soup has become a firm favourite for us. See their opening hours on their website>
If you’re feeling creative you can pop along to this ceramic workshop in Scone which also now offers Silver Print jewellery, Decoupage and Canvas workshops. There’s no need to book, just go along during opening hours.
They provide everything you need from brushes and paints to stamps, stencils and ideas! I can vouch that you don’t need to have any artistic skills to do this, and it’s a great way to make family keepsakes or special gifts.
We had lots of recommendations for this one, so I know it comes Parent Approved. We can't wait to head along and try it out!
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As visitors sadly are unable to visit Pitlochry Festival Theatre right now, their team are offering instructions on How to Build Your Own Theatre!
May 27th Wednesday 2020
Horsecross Arts is launching Virtual Voices, an online version combining the popular regular singing group Horsecross Voices with Little Stars.
May 21st Thursday 2020
A group of creative families in Scone have discovered the perfect way to prevent social isolation and encourage each other to enjoy their exercise!
May 18th Monday 2020
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