Palacerigg Country Park is a great place for fun play areas and peaceful nature walks. It’s especially good for little kids but older kids will enjoy the play areas here too. It can get quite mucky if it’s been raining, but pack a picnic, bring your wellies, and enjoy everything this lovely country park has to offer.
walks
6 Beautiful Family Walks Around Glasgow
Here are a couple of lovely places around Glasgow for a wander with the family. Places to enjoy nature and the outdoors. See a waterfall here and there, a wee highland cow or two…
Free things to do this summer around Glasgow
There are loads of activities you can do for free (or nearly free) in and around Glasgow this summer. Activities for all the family. Fun doesn’t have to bankrupt you!
Sunday Strolls: Glen Finglas Reservoir
The Glen Finglas reservoir spills over the dam into a stunning cascading waterfall. It isn’t a long walk, so don’t go expecting to be here all day, but there is loads to do in this area, and even within Glen Finglas itself. Plan a few stops and turn it into a lovely wee daytrip! Glen …
Family friendly hill walks near Glasgow
A list of hill walks within driving distance of Glasgow, all suitable for little legs. Some higher ascents, some longer distances, some easier & some a bit more tricky.
The best country parks for a daytrip
A list of wide open spaces where you can explore and take a big deep breath away from the city. Country Parks within an hour of Glasgow.
Waterfalls Near Glasgow
There’s something special about a good waterfall. Here are some of our favourites for a great day out. Your next adventure awaits!
Gleniffer Braes Country Park
Gleniffer Braes is a huge park with swathes of open space to explore. It’s so near the city, but it also feels like you’re miles away. With waterfalls, loads of walks, cattle and play areas it’s great day out!
The Kelvin Walkway
The Kelvin Walkway is a beautiful walk, stretching 10 miles along the banks of the River Kelvin from Kelvinhaugh all the way out to Milngavie. It’s a great, easily accessible walk where you really don’t feel like you’re in the middle of a big city.
Dawsholm Park
We have just started coming back to Dawsholm Park in the past weeks as lockdown has eased a bit, and we all absolutely love this park. It has open meadow spaces, massive trees, a bit of river to splash in and lots of little hidden bits to explore. It’s such an underrated park and the kids really feel like they’re on an adventure here. Great fun.
Mugdock Country Park
We always have a great time at Mugdock Country Park. It’s a huge open space to explore with a great castle and a nice wee playpark. Totally free as well, with free parking.
Kelburn Country Park
Kelburn Country Park is a fantastic place to spend a day. The Secret Forest is one of the most magical things I’ve done with the kids. The whole place is rustic and lovely and the glen is beautiful. A great day out with the kids.
Dollar Glen & Castle Campbell
Dollar Glen & Castle Campbell is a great day trip if you’re looking for something totally laid back and outdoors. There’s lots of natural things to examine on the walk up the Glen, and a beautiful castle to explore when you reach the the top!
Finlaystone Country Estate
Rustic, lovely and a tiny bit magical; Finlaystone is one of my favourite finds from last year. There’s so much to entertain kids. They can let their legs and imaginations run wild. And it’s a great place to bring the dog too.
Whitelee Windfarm
We’ve been trying to make the best of some pretty crappy weather lately and ventured out to Whitelee Windfarm in Eaglesham. It’s rugged & picturesque, and the wind turbines are pretty grand up close. They also have a wee cafe for a post-walk warm up.
Culzean Castle & Country Park
We had a great time at Culzean Castle & Country Park. They have one of the best playparks we’ve ever been to. There’s so much to do at Culzean and it’s really beautiful too; pretty gardens, swans, forest and a big rocky shoreline. Excellent day out.
New Lanark & Falls of Clyde
New Lanark is a great day out whether you want to spend it indoors or outdoors. The Annie McLeod Experience is something fun and unusual for a rainy day, and the Falls of Clyde Reserve is a lovely place for a walk.
Pollok Country Park
Despite it only being a 10 minute drive away, I’ve only ever been to Pollok Country Park a few times. If we’re planning on going to a country park, I always kinda forget that Pollok Park is there and end up travelling much further. So the little lady and I went along this morning to get a toddler’s perspective and …
Calderglen Country Park
There’s plenty green space to run or have a picnic in and little animal lovers will enjoy the children’s zoo. The walks down by the river are lovely too.
Chatelherault Country Park
Chatelherault Park is one of my favourite places on earth. Walking through it’s big, beautiful, ancient forest makes me feel like I’ve gone back in time. We go here with our dogs quite a lot, especially during the week when it’s quiet. Some days you can walk for an hour hardly seeing another person! (Bit …