This is one I’ve been meaning to write about for a wee while. We’ve been here a few times over the past year or so, and we love a day out at Valley View at Gouldings in the Clyde Valley. It’s a great place to meet up with some friends. It’s even great for parents to get a catch up while the kids play.

That is actually one of my favourite things about Valley View; it’s a great place to let the kids be free range. And while they do that you can have a coffee, read a book, catch up on emails, talk to other adults… It’s great!

If you sit on the benches within the main play area you can set the kids free to roam all around there. Within that space you can see most of the play equipment. So they can play happily while you live your best parent life for a while.

Within this big play area you’ll find a sand pit, trampolines, bouncy pillow, swings, hay bales with slides and a tractor climbing frame. There’s also go karts, zip slides and sledge slides (or toboggans or whatever you call them). And just so you’re forewarned, there are also a few rides that cost extra within this space – quad bikes & bumper boats.

Next to this area is the crazy golf (costs £1) and the football golf areas. The maize maze is seasonal but when it’s there it’s brilliant. I lost my big kid in it last Halloween. (I did find her again – she’s fine.)

There is a tractor ride that takes you on a bumpy ride alongside the river which is included in admission. The barrel train is also included in admission and is a definite highlight. The kids get belted in to their own wee barrel and they are pulled by a quad bike on a fun ride to a big field where they do some circles and back again. My kids love it.

There is loads for the kids to do here at Valley View. It’s all packed into a pretty small space so there’s not much walking involved at all. This makes it easy for supervising and for leaving the buggy behind if you have a very independent little kid!

The Special Events

Gouldings have the most adorable Christmas experience. It starts with a walk through grotto filled with singing polar bears and loads of animatronic animals and characters. The singing reindeer are a big favourite. Then you meet Santa, after which you head through to choose a toy from the toy shop. To finish there are some little rides for kids to go on, and hot chocolate and mince pies. It’s aimed more at younger kids; I would say to around age 6 or 7, as after that they’ll be too big for the rides. I absolutely loved this when my kids were little. One of our favourite Santa experiences for sure.

We’ve been to the Valley View Halloween event for the past few years. There’s a big pumpkin patch where you can choose your pumpkins, an indoor area to carve them plus a maize maze that’s great fun. You can combine this with a day at the park and it is a brilliant day out in the run up to Halloween!

The Cafe

There is a restaurant indoors serving up all your usual hot and cold food and drinks. The little cabin outside at the front of the park sells hot and cold drinks, ice lollies and snacks. It is right next to the picnic tables, making it perfect for a cuppa or an emergency ice lolly on a hot day. There are plenty of picnic tables available, spread out on the lawn area where most of the play equipment is. There are also some tables in a wee shelter if you don’t want it to rain on your lunch.

The Cost

£10.95 for age 2+; £5 for adults; £3 under age 2; free for babies in arms. Family & groups rates available. Golf costs £1 per person at the wee golf ball machine.

The Logistics

  • Suitable for buggies
  • No dogs allowed
  • Loads of parking available
  • The nearest train station is Lanark. From there you’d need a 20 min bus ride (317) to the Popinjay Hotel followed by a short walk.

The Verdict

Valley View is a great day out. Now that my kids are a bit older and are more independent, this is the perfect place to let them run free and play while I supervise from a distance. There are loads of activities and equipment to keep the kids occupied at Valley View – they absolutely love it here.

Valley View at Gouldings is located at Gouldings Garden Centre, Rosebank, Carluke ML8 5QA.