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Family Activities

Fun for all the family

Silhouettes of family looking a fish in an aquariumGolden Eagle preparing to landCastle at Mugdock Country Park near Glasgow

Loch Lomond Family Activities

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Places to Visit with the family around Loch Lomond

Our holiday cottage is located near Drymen, Stirlingshire. Perfectly positioned for family activities around Loch Lomond. 

There are lots of wonderful family-friendly walking and cycle routes, with many quiet tracks, away from busy roads. With such an abundance of natural landscapes and wildlife to discover, this is the perfect place to switch off and get back to nature with kids. And, for busy children, enquiring minds, and rainy days there is a multitude of activities and attractions nearby to keep everyone occupied.

Below are some of our favourite activities and attractions for children and families to enjoy, all within a half-hour drive of the cottage.

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Family Fun

Our Favourite Family Attractions Loch Lomond

Go Ape Aberfoyle

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Distance from the cottage: 8 miles

Go Ape is an amazing outdoor adventure park in Aberfoyle. Within the mountains, forests and woodland of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs, it has two of the longest zip wires in the UK. This exhilarating experience will have you flying over trees and a stunning waterfall! Suitable for ages 10 and over.

Also here, you will find the Lodge Visitor Centre, the gateway to the vast Queen Elizabeth Forest Park. So, with a cafe, nature insights, and plenty of trails to explore, you’re sure for a fun-packed day. And if this isn’t enough, you can head back down to the village of Aberfoyle, which offers mountain bike practice trails, ice creams and an excellent playpark. Or pop along to Kinlochard for a wide choice of outdoor activities and watersports at Loch Ard Adventure Centre.

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Child taking part in a zip wire activity
Silhouettes of family looking a fish in an aquarium

Sea Life Loch Lomond Aquarium

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Distance from the cottage: 11 miles

See an amazing variety of aquatic life, such as tropical fish, seahorses, sharks, stingrays and otters at Sea Life Loch Lomond. From the Lochs of Scotland to the Bay of Rays, there are several zones to explore. Including the amazing Tropical Ocean Tunnel. With a programme of creature talks and feeds on throughout the day. Suitable for all ages.

Sea Life Loch Lomond is located at Loch Lomond Shores. Here you can take to the sky at Treezone, enjoy the play park, crazy golf and water sports. There’s enough to keep busy children occupied all day!

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Loch Lomond Bird of Prey Centre

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Distance from the cottage: 11 miles

Adjacent to Loch Lomond Shores, you’ll find the Loch Lomond Bird of Prey Centre. Get up close to an array of birds of prey, including buzzards, hawks, eagles, owls, vultures, kestrels and falcons. Daily flying displays showcase the skills and features of these magnificent animals. You’ll learn some fascinating facts about the different species, and discover how the centre is involved in the conservation and protection of birds of prey. They also offer special experiences, at an additional cost, such as the “Hawk Walk” and “Meet the Owls”. 

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Close up of a snowy owl
Castle at Mugdock Country Park near Glasgow

Mugdock Country Park

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Distance from the cottage: 10 miles

Mugdock Country Park has 270 hectares of woodland, moorland and heathland for all the family to explore. There’s lots of space for the kids to run around, a children’s play park, adventure trail, visitor centre and sign-posted paths for walking and cycling. You can also visit the ruins of Mugdock Castle. Also, in the summer months, children can enjoy nature activities and events. And don’t forget to pop into the cafe for some delicious food! Suitable for all ages.

 

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Blairdrummond Safari Park

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Distance from the cottage: 17 miles

No family holiday to our cottage would be complete without a day out at Blairdrummond Safari Park. This really is a special day trip for all the family. And there’s a lot more than just a safari park drive-through!

See the animals up close and learn about their lives, spend hours in the amazing adventure playground and on rides. Or relax with a family BBQ – complete with BBQs ready to light (be sure to book ahead). And if that’s not enough, step back in time on their latest feature, ROARsome, an interactive dinosaur walk.

And all this before you visit Lemur Land, play on the pedalos, or experience an awesome display of Birds of Prey!

Suitable for children of all ages.

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A lioness relaxing under a tree at Blairdrummond Safari Park
The waters of Loch Lomond on a sunny day

Sweeney’s Cruise Co.

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Distance from the cottage: 12 miles

Set sail with Sweeney’s Cruise Co. for boat trips on the loch, departing from nearby Balloch. See the spectacular views and hear the fascinating stories of this magical Scottish loch. This is a great adventure for all the family and a must when visiting Loch Lomond. Suitable for all ages.

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Loch Lomond Faerie Trail

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Distance from the cottage: 19 miles

For a magical family day out, head to Loch Lomond Faerie Trail. Explore the woods and look out for faeries and other mythical creatures. The routes have seasonal themes, such as a festive trail in the winter and a Halloween theme in the autumn. The trail is designed for children aged around 4 to 10 years old, but is suitable for all ages. It is around a mile long, and can take between one and three hours to complete. However, there is a shortcut back to the car park if you need it.

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Red spotted toadstool on a fairy trail
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Activity centres and fun

Swimming and soft play

Make a splash at The Leisuredrome in Bishopbriggs. This leisure centre has a fun swimming pool with a flume and wave machine. There’s also a children’s soft play area called Charlie’s Big Adventure. 

Also, you will find nearby the McLaren Leisure Centre in Callander. Another great place for kids. Dive into the pool. Go wild in the soft play. Or take to the climbing wall for a fun-filled day out.

Pool suitable for all ages, soft play for ages 12 and under.

Pony trekking

Nearby in Balloch is Loch Lomond Pony Trekking. Definitely one of the best ways to experience the spectacular scenery of Loch Lomond. 

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Things to do around Loch Lomond

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Discover Loch Lomond with our local guides

If you’re looking for more things to do around Loch Lomond during your stay at Ballat Smithy Cottage, please see our Loch Lomond guides to walking, cycling, history and heritage, wildlife and nature, food and drink and more! If you need any assistance when planning your activities, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.

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Reviews

‘What an amazing job you’ve done here at Ballat Smithy! You truly live in an enchanted area of the world which we’ve been privileged to visit.’
From our visitors’ book.

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Watch Our Video Below

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And See Ballat Smithy Cottage

Watch our video below and see our gorgeous cottage for yourself. Plus, get a taster of some of the wonderful attractions and activities nearby, including Loch Lomond. We are sure you will love all we have to offer so get booking today and enjoy a relaxing stay with us here at Ballat Smithy Cottage.

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Explore more below…

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Walking

Find out more about walks around Loch Lomond and the Trossachs here……
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Cycling

Explore where you can cycle around Loch Lomond and the Trossachs……
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Golf

Find out about golf courses nearby to us at Ballat Smithy Cottage……
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Heritage & History

Explore our local historical attractions here……
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Wildlife & Nature

Explore our local wildlife walks and attractions here……
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Water Activities

Explore our local water activities and attractions here……
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Family Activities

Explore our local family activities here……
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Food & Drink

Explore our local eateries here……
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