Discover 8 Family Activities across Argyll & the Isles
Easter is a great time of the year to visit Argyll & the Isles. Spring has arrived, with lambs in the fields, primroses flowering and birdsong filling the air. The longer days give you extra hours for outdoor family adventures, whether that’s wandering in the woods, kayaking around the coast, or exploring an island by bike. Many of the gardens, castles, and visitor attractions of Argyll open for the season at Easter, and lots of them celebrate with events aimed at families. Take a look at our top tips for family things to do in Argyll & the Isles this Easter and start hatching your plans for the spring holidays.
Walking
Get out and explore the beautiful Argyll landscape on foot this Easter. Hike up a hill, take a stroll through a forest or amble along a beach, there are plenty of walks for you to enjoy in Argyll & the Isles this Easter! If you’re coming from Glasgow, the Arrochar Alps offer fantastic walking and are incredibly accessible whether by car, bus or train. These magnificent mountains have drawn generations of walkers and for many kicked of their love affair with hill walking in the Highlands.
A stroll along the Crinan Canal is another delightful thing to do at Easter or why not visit Duchess Wood, Helensburgh a rich and diverse woodland with a variety of different plant and animal species, with a network of paths and bridges, this is a lovely place to visit and enjoy a fun-packed woodland stroll with all the family, for more walking ideas why not check out our Top walks here.
Discover Puck's Glen in Cowal this Easter
Mountain biking & Cycling
With its vast areas of forest and mountains, Argyll & the Isles is the perfect place to go mountain biking & cycling with your family. There are thousands of miles of trails and forest tracks to explore. The Fire Tower Trail near Lochgilphead provides a fabulous 12 miles (19.5 km) of riding. There’s a whole network of trails from Ardgartan that make for a great day out. The 11km Glenshellish Loop is a good introduction to off-road cycling and kids will enjoy splashing through a ford at the head of the glen! Why not explore some of our recommended cycle and trail routes, which show routes suitable for families too!
Kayaking
Argyll & the Isles diverse coastlines, sheltered waters, islands, sandy beaches, caves, and much more, make it a fantastic place to kayak. Paddle the Argyll Sea Trail (or bits of it!) for some of the best sea kayaking in Europe. The Crinan Canal is ideal for kayaking novices and kids, with calm, protected waters and lovely grassy banks for a picnic.
Gardens
Many of the glorious gardens of the Argyll & the Isles, open for the season during spring, making it the perfect place to visit during Easter. Enjoy magnificent displays of spring flowers in stunning settings, wildlife, and hopefully some lovely weather. The gardens at Mount Stuart on the island of Bute look particularly gorgeous at this time of year, and there’s an adventure playground too, brilliant to keep the children entertained. Benmore Botanic Gardens near Dunoon is another stunning spot to visit in spring. Ardkinglas Woodland Gardens offers a fun Easter stroll, along the Gruffalo Trail, which is perfect to keep the kids amused, whilst spotting all the little fairy houses and enchanting things it has to offer!
Castles & history
Fancy heading to one of Argyll & the Isles castles or historic attractions, to learn more about the history of these historic sites, then why not check out Inveraray Castle and Inveraray Jail which makes for a great day out as does Mount Stuart on Bute.
Discover the wonders of Kilmartin Glen, one of Scotland’s richest prehistoric landscapes. You'll find standing stones, stones circles, cairns, and decorated rocks. You can join a guided walk on Easter Day to find out more about this unique ancient landscape. And to get an insight into Scotland’s rural history, head to Auchindrain Highland Township near Inveraray. Vividly imagine life in the old Highlands as you walk through the settlement and see how ordinary people lived and worked. Interested in history, and fancy a discount on visiting historical sites, why not check out the Historic Scotland membership.
Wildlife
Argyll & the Isles is home to some incredible wildlife, including otters, red squirrels, basking sharks, and beavers. How about heading to Argyll Beaver Centre to try and spot the shy beavers – or at least see evidence of their hard work crafting their homes. Look out for red squirrels, ospreys, and eagles too. Loch Gruinart and The Oa RSPB reserves on Islay are brilliant for bird watching in spring and make for a great pass time to spot a variety of different birds or why not head across the water to Jura, where you can see Jura's Five best creatures to spot. There are many wildlife spots across Argyll & the Isles, maybe take a walk through some of the forest trails on offer to see a variety of wildlife.
Food & chocolates
Easter is a time to enjoy good food with family and friends. In Argyll & The Isles, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to family-friendly places to eat this Easter. Portavadie, Loch Fyne, is great for dining with kids and you can work up an appetite in the swimming pool. Easter wouldn’t be Easter without chocolate! If you want to outdo the easter chocolate this year, why not order an easter cake from Northern Lights Cakery, which offers a selection of beautifully crafted cakes, cupcakes, and through-the-door gift boxes.
Local Easter Events
Of course, there will be lots of local, traditional Easter activities taking place in towns and villages throughout Argyll and the Isles, so if it’s a spot of egg rolling or an Easter egg hunt you’re looking for then you shouldn’t be disappointed! Discover what's on this Easter holiday.
Extend your Easter weekend
If you’re planning to extend the Easter break in Argyll, then how about heading over to the Inner Hebrides? Discover the Isles of Islay, Jura and Colonsay. With stunning landscapes, an abundance of walks and wildlife abounds in all corners with a chance to see eagles, otters, deer and goats, a trip to the Inner Hebrides will leave you with lifelong memories.
If you want to elongate the holiday post-Easter, and you’re a competent rider, then you might fancy a short-trip equestrian trip with Wilder Ways. Explore the wild hills and beaches of Kintyre during this action-packed adventure.
Or how about taking your family on a sailing holiday? From a days’ sail exploring inner Hebridean islands to a full week of cruising, combining other outdoor activities, cast off with Stravaigin Sailing to discover new and exciting horizons this spring.
Places to Stay for the Whole Family
Argyll & the Isles is home to numerous family-friendly accommodations and holiday parks.
Melfort Village near Oban, for example, is a fantastic place to stay with the whole family. Whether it’s marvelling at a breath-taking sunset, exploring rock-pools and skimming stones on the beach, taking long woodland walks with the family and dogs or just relaxing in the Restaurant after a wonderful meal - the opportunities are endless.
Argyll Holidays has a selction of holiday parks all across Argyll, which offer adventure experiences and accommodation for the whole family. Whether you're looking for a self-catering cottage with a hot tub at Hunters Quay Holiday Village near Loch Lomond, a peaceful and relaxing escape to Loch Eck Caravan Park or an adventure-packed trip to the Drimsynie Holiday Village near Loch Lomond, Argyll Holidays has the right accommodation for your family trip!
