Scotland with Toddlers (and mobile babies)

I just realized that one of my highest content pieces here was a post I wrote on Scotland for babies. While, I’m not sure it was the most in-depth or informative pieces ever, I’m coming back now some of the tips and tricks we’ve picked up about visiting Scotland with toddlers. If you’re looking to visit Scotland with your toddler, I’ve got some (toddler approved) places you must visit! Naturally, if you have an active and mobile baby, some of this might be helpful too :)

Glasgow:

Kelvingrove Museum - Your toddler might not care about the art, but they’ll adore the animal section and the hands on play. Last year there was a whole dinosaur “Dippy” in the entryway and our three year old is still chatting about how much she loved Dippy. (If you’ve seen Paddington 1, Dippy is the giant dinosaur skeleton in the Museum of Natural History.)

Kelvingrove Park: this park is massive. There are playgrounds within it and plenty of green spaces to go and get your wiggles out.

Pollock Country Park : this is one of our favorites to visit. You have to pay to visit the house, but the grounds are free. There are highland cattle, sheep, horses, and lots of biking trails and gardens to explore. The fairy garden is lovely too! Also, clean bathrooms!

Glasgow Botanic Gardens: The botanics are lovely and green and warm, if you’re in the depths of dull winter (like currently), but they also do lots of events during the summer too! And the outdoor gardens are lovely and there are some beautiful trails to walk down to the river behind the gardens. It’s also a great rainy day activity because there is a enough to see indoors to stay busy for a couple of hours, and all the lovely food from Byers Rd is right there!

I hesitated about this but… Ikea. We love Ikea. £.50 ice cream. A chance to walk around a massive shop and wear the kids out on the rainiest of days. Swedish meatballs. It’s a cheap day out and when my daughter hears “Ikea” she immediate thinks “ice cream”. There are worse things out there.

And bathrooms, because if you’re like me, you want to find the cleanest ones before exploring the city with a toddler. John Lewis on Buchanan (with the added bonus of meandering through the furniture section!), Princes’ Square, Paesanos (although small, they’re generally spotless. No changing tables though). Because Aaron worked off Byers Rd for so long, I’ve been known to nip into his old shop because it’s a staff bathroom, so I’m not terribly familiar with Byer’s Rd area toilets.

Edinburgh:

Museum of Natural History: This place is massive. We usually stay on the first floor because my acrophobia really acts up when I’m on a higher level and can see the floor below. That being said, take the lift to the top and get the best views of Edinburgh. All very pushchair and child friendly.

Edinburgh Castle: this isn’t terribly push chair friendly, but it’s all uphill and if you need to wear a toddler out, it’s great. The cafe also has a lovely window that looks out on the city so it’s great for people watching.

Mary’s Milk Bar: not open on Mondays, but if you need an ice cream in Edinburgh, this is the place to be!

Edinburgh Library: It’s massive and lovely. And it’s a library with kids books. What more can you ask for?

Edinburgh Zoo: This is pricey but it’s a fun day out! We have done it for both kids’ first birthdays and I don’t regret it one bit. It is on a bit of a hill though, so just be forewarned if you’re bringing a push chair…

Holyrood Park: I haven’t done much here, but I have climbed Arthur’s Seat (it’s the big hill in Edinburgh, in case you were wondering). The views are lovely, but it is a bit of a trek, so wear appropriate footwear. The path is quite rugged as well, so I wouldn't recommend it on a mucky day.

Are you sensing a theme here? Hills. Basically, if you can use a foldable pram or a carrier, I’d recommend that. Even cafes on the main streets are on the first floor and not every place has a lift.

As far as bathrooms go… The cafe on the mound has an easily accessible one right there with space for an adult + toddler or two. Don't try to take your pram in though, you’ll get stuck. I don’t generally recommended the train bathrooms because you’ll have to pay for them, and they’re quite small. House of Fraser, if you can find them, and the National Gallery have more spacious ones for your potty trained wee one. They’re also clean.

Loch Lomond Area:

Balloch Country Park: Rolling hills, a beautiful castle overlooking Loch Lomond, a walled garden, and a couple of smaller playgrounds for the kids to play in (one right on the water’s edge!) It’s perfect.

Glenarn Garden: Not exactly in Loch Lomond, but it’s not far away. This is a splendid, private garden with incredible trails meandering along the hillside.

Loch Lomond Aquarium : This is not the largest aquarium I’ve ever been to, but for a toddler, it’s amazing. We have yearly passes and I highly recommend that if you live locally and have fish obsessed kids. The 1:00 feeding of the otters is the best. Also, the view from the top is spectacular.

Luss Fairie Trail: You can pop into the Visitor’s Centre and get the whole little book about the trail. You can also walk around it and just explore it for free (what we’ve always done just because the kids are still a bit too wee to really enjoy it just yet.)

Levengrove Park: I’m biased because it’s in my town, but Levengrove is lovely, has a beautiful playground right next to a cafe with toilets, and fantastic views down the Clyde. Lots of space to run around and get the wiggles out!

Hikes: There are lots of hikes around Loch Lomond that are enjoyable for a toddler. Conic Hill is long but not terribly strenuous. Bracklinn Falls is located in Callander and is a simple hike with gorgeous waterfalls. The Dumpling is a simple hike with really gorgeous views on the Eastern side of the Loch. Ben Lomond is on our list this year, but I doubt the toddlers will both walk it, although it’s hard to tell with toddlers.

Ross Priory: gorgeous walled gardens and trails all along the Loch Lomond shoreline. Perfect for wandering toddlers and a picnic lunch.

Miscellaneous :

We do probably 3/4 of our travel by car these days, so our train travel has been limited. I prefer traveling by car myself, but trains are so much more exciting for the resident toddlers. I usually bring snacks and drinks, no matter the method of transport. Veggie puffs and camelbacks are our food and drink choices, respectively. If we’re going on a long trip, I bring the potty because i don't want to have to nip into a petrol station after a free babyccino from Costa.

My kids wear wellies on a daily basis. I have found that Crocs are the lightest and most durable. I also have puddle suits for both kids, because, rain. Hats, gloves, and coats are probably needed 1/2 of the year, although a raincoat may be needed as much as 90% of the time. It’s taken me 3 years, but I am finally learning, that my kids don’t really care what the weather is like. Walking in the rain is fun for them, as long as they’re dressed appropriately. They wear lots of layers and lots of knits and they’re always warm and cozy.

All in all, I have found that Scotland is extremely accommodating with small children and babies. People on the train generally cluck and coo over my two, and it’s a pretty common thing to really think kids are super cute here. There a tons and tons of activities outside of these to do, but these are the ones I’ve found we do over and over again.