Park · 10:00–11:00 (1h)
Ness Islands Walk
Cross the footbridges and spot ducks on the river.
An outdoor park in Inverness, aimed at ages 4 and up.
Photo: explore-inverness.com
Inverness
Inverness Botanic Gardens · Photo: Craig Wallace
Follow the River Ness south from the city centre to a string of wooded islands linked by footbridges. Next door, the Botanic Gardens have warm glasshouses for a cactus and jungle detour, and a café with baby changing for lunch.
Park · 10:00–11:00 (1h)
Cross the footbridges and spot ducks on the river.
An outdoor park in Inverness, aimed at ages 4 and up.
Photo: explore-inverness.com
Nature & gardens · 11:00–12:00 (1h)
Warm up in the tropical and cactus houses.
Small council-run gardens by the River Ness with a tropical house and cactus house, outdoor beds and a café. A good short indoor-outdoor stop that pairs with the Ness Islands walk next door.
Photo: Craig Wallace

Food stop · 12:00–13:00 (1h)
Lunch in the café; accessible toilet and baby change inside.
The café inside Inverness Botanic Gardens, with accessible toilets and baby changing.
Photo: highlifehighland.com
ScotlandGlasgow West End
Two of Glasgow's best free museums sit within a mile of each other along the Kelvin. The Riverside Museum is packed with trams, cars and a walk-through old street, and Kelvingrove's halls hold everything from a Spitfire to a stuffed elephant.
Riverside Museum → Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
South Queensferry / North Queensferry
Start at Craigie's Farm on the edge of South Queensferry with an early bite in the farm café and a look around the fields. Then cross the Forth to Deep Sea World, where a walk-through tunnel puts sharks and rays right over little heads, all indoors.
Craigie's Farm Cafe → Deep Sea World
ScotlandEdinburgh city centre
Spend the morning in the free National Museum of Scotland, where skeletons, space kit and a whole floor of science and technology galleries keep curious kids busy. After lunch, walk downhill to Dynamic Earth for a journey through the planet's history under one roof, with no need to step outside for long.
National Museum of Scotland → Dynamic Earth