Fun for all the family in Cairngorms National Park 
Camping and holidaying as a family is the ideal opportunity for you to try out new things and to see the kind of things you wouldn’t normally see if you were at home. By holidaying in the Cairngorms, there are all kinds of activities, sights and things try out; and here are just a few:
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Llama Trekking in Glenshee
Llamas are intriguing creatures that you can’t help but love. Their woolly coats and friendliness makes them so attractive to people that you’ll be stroking them before you realise it. In the Cairngorms you can get up close and personal with a number of striking yet aloof llamas, where you can even feed them and take them for a walk with a guide – great for building up your children’s confidence with and around animals. Make sure you take your walking boots and waterproofs!
Find out more details here: http://www.llamatrekscotland.com/
Family Rafting
Rafting doesn’t only take place down on the wild white-water of the River Spey. The belief that it’s an adrenaline-fuelled activity that sends you hurtling through narrow stretches and between perilous rocks puts many families and young people off. However, the family rafting experience takes place on a quite section of the beautiful river so that you can experience it for the very first time. You can ride down the river with the help of an experienced guide who will even point out a few of the local wildlife.
To learn more visit: http://rothiemurchus.net/outdoor-activities-at-aviemore/family-rafting/
Loch Insh Watersports Centre – Mountain Biking
Not everybody comes to the Cairngorms to go mountain biking, but having taken a relaxed stroll around the national park and seen the number of people out on their bikes, many get the urge to give it a go. At Loch Insh Watersports Centre you can do plenty of activities on dry land, including hiring out some mountain bikes and all the essential gear so that you can see the park on two wheels. The venue can loan you everything from the bike to high-visibility vests and even repair kits so you’re fully prepared.
Find out more information here: http://www.lochinsh.com/la-biking.asp
Archery at Craggan Outdoors
Craggan Outdoors is one of the most popular venues in the region for the sheer range of activities on offer suitable for the whole family. For many, archery is the kind of activity that you either stumble upon or learn about while you’re at venues such as Craggan Outdoors, so why not join them? Test out your hand-eye co-ordination and attempt to hit the middle of the target. Instructors are readily available and each one or two-hour session is open to everyone from the age 8 and upwards.
Find out more here: http://www.cragganoutdoors.co.uk/archery/
Foot Golf
It might sound like an odd combination, but the blend of football and golf has become one of the most popular activities in the UK over the past twelve months. A fantastic opportunity to combine your football skills with your love of golf, or to get youngsters into either sport, is available in the Cairngorms at Craggan Outdoors. Kick the ball from the tee to a football-sized hole on the green. It follows the same concept as golf where the fewest attempts wins, so it’s a test of precision as well as your ability to boot the ball a long way!
Learn more about foot golf here: http://www.cragganoutdoors.co.uk/foot-golf/
Mini Highland Games
Scotland is famous for the Highland Games as people dressed in traditional attire attempt to perform some incredible skills in order to win. While you’re up in the Highlands, you and the family can attempt the Mini Highland Games with a scaled-down version of these traditional sports (kilts are optional!) Toss the caber, putt your shot as far down as you can and wang your wellies as far as possible!
Learn more here: http://www.cragganoutdoors.co.uk/mini-highland-games/
Macdonald Aviemore Resort Activity Centre
When you can’t decide what to do during your holiday, heading for an activity centre is often the best way to keep the whole family entertained. At the Macdonald Aviemore Resort activity centre there is something for both little children and slightly bigger children too! Here you can try your hand at ten-pin bowling, miniature golf and a whole range of indoor activities that mean that you can find something even when the weather isn’t playing nicely.
Find out more details here: http://www.visitaviemore.com/attractions/indoor-attractions/
Highland Horse Fun
Horse riding and pony trekking can be both entertaining and relaxing at the same time, especially when you have a love for all things equestrian but don’t have your own horses at home. Highland Horse Fun offer guests the opportunity to ride small ponies that are ideal for younger children and adult horses capable of trekking out into the Cairngorms national park. See the countryside in a completely different way and get up close and personal with these majestic animals.
Learn more about the packages here: http://www.highlandhorsefun.com/
Balmoral Castle
The Queen’s Scottish residence is wonderful building to see from a distance and even more magnificent when you get right up close. At Balmoral Castle you can have a tour of the grounds letting you see why the Queen and the Royal Family love the venue so much, venture inside the castle to see the inside on a guided tour, or even get into a 4×4 for an off-road trip through the castle grounds to see some of the hidden gems. It’s worth checking when the Castle is open to the public, however, to save yourself a trip – unless you have an invite from the Queen of course!
Find out more here: http://www.balmoralcastle.com/
The Cairngorm Reindeer Centre
They’re something of a mythical creature to some people, with a lot of children believing that they live outside Santa’s workshop in the North Pole. However, you can get up close to some beautiful reindeer at the Cairngorm Reindeer Centre. Adults and children alike may never have seen a real reindeer before, so as you’re in the area you need to venture into the reindeer centre where you can see around 150 of the animals in their natural habitats.
Learn more here: http://www.cairngormreindeer.co.uk/
