Art and very good Art it is…read more You forget these Vaults quite easily on Market Street as they just merge into the city backdrop. They don't get used like this so it's a great way to use a space and i hope it's the start of something special for artists. The musty vaults host a series of arts and entertainment. I fell in love with two particular artist's work - David Martin and Miriam Mallalieu apart from the bit where I almost crapped myself going into Miriam Mallalieu's "Charnel House for Roadkill"!! We went in the daytime so know real entertainment to hear, but to see there were plenty of cool artists!

It's an exhibition - it's a party - it's a wonderland it's…read moreall of these things. And more. Every year Edinburgh's art scene opens the Vaults on Market Street and turn them into a world of its own. Sculpture, Fine Art, film, music, installation art and performances will take hold of you as soon as you step in. You will forget your everyday life for a couple of hours and feel like floating in a creative aquarium. I forgot that I was still in Edinburgh. the tickets at 10- 15 Pounds seem expensive but you'll be able to see several bands and DJ's and judging from their Opening Night yesterday, it's spectacular and I would (and will) happily spend it again. And they are a charitable fund! Oh and if you are too busy at night: the exhibition Vaults are open during the day - for free.

We drove past them on the highway and I tried hard to take a good picture but as an added surprise,…read moreour tour guide stopped for an hour to give us time to explore the park. Entrance is free and a great place to enjoy. They are reported to be the to be the tallest horse sculpture in the world standing at 100 ft tall. They are an impressive sight!

Wow! We didn't even have to visit The Helix park in Falkirk to see them. They were there to greet…read moreus along the M9 Motorway on the way to Glencoe. What a sight to see on an early Friday morning. Their names are Duke & Baron. They are the steel sculptures (100 ft tall) modeled after the Clydesdale horses that were vital in moving barges along the canals. It's a perfect location for them being near the link between the Forth and Clyde canals. They are named after mythical shape-shifting spirits called "Kelpies" that would appear in the form of a horse. It's like the one that Newt rides in Fantastic Beasts. A very mysterious and mythical creature. Well, they certainly looked that way to me when seeing their heads peeking over the motorway through the morning fog. It was mesmerizing! So much so, that I didn't even think of taking a picture of it. I was too stunned at the sight we were seeing, as well as the fact that there is no viewing point to stop at from the motorway. I kind of regret not being able to visit the park to get the whole experience. There is even a tour that will take you inside one of the sculptures. I'm hoping we can visit the next time we're in Edinburgh on a cruise of the British Isles. I can only hope.

"You would have to be half mad to dream me up." - Alice in…read moreWonderland. There's a very good reason I felt like a mischievous gal fallen down the rabbit hole - this place has a touch of wonderland about it. As you can tell from my photos, I was not at all intrigued and barely found a hint to take a picture of (they really should have a dedicated sarcasm font don't you think?). Just a few weeks after arriving in Scotland, I hopped on a train for an overnight adventure. I wouldn't attempt this in a day - it's well worth a night's stay and that gives you a bit of time to wander through Pitlochry afterwards/before unrushed. The Enchanted Forest is a beautiful exhibit of light and music. I would definitely suggest you take a week day jaunt through and try for the latest booking time possible - less kiddies colliding about. Not that they were a bother, the ones that were on my tour time, but it was nice to have a less hectic crowd to wander through the lights with. That being said, if you have wee ones - this is a perfect evening out, as they have story huts and lots to keep little minds entertained. Definitely grab yourself a mulled wine and though you'll want to snap every moment imaginable, do take some time to get out from behind the camera and just watch. I had hoped there would be more aerial artists. The two that were there, were wonderful and it only made me wish there were more artists roaming in, up and around the trees. It would add a completely new element to the experience that would be pretty darn special. But what they've done so far is top notch. The blend of music and lights is exceptionally done and the walk is both exciting and contemplative. Well done Enchanted Forest - it takes quite the force to make me wax poetic confusion. I would love to get a behind the scenes peek at this installation - because it has to take an army to get all those lights up (and some sneaky generator work?). But it's efficiency, right down to the well choreographed bus transfers just makes it easier to get yourself lost in pretty, pretty lights. Go be Alice for an evening. It's well worth the adventure.

A yearly outdoor art installation of light and sound. This is held in a forest near Pitlochry,…read morewhich is in the Lower Highlands. We went as group and got tickets about a month before. Which is recommended as the evening we went was sold out. The organisation was tight and very efficient, buses left from the Fisher's Hotel every 10-15 minutes. The installation / presentation is a 10 minutes drive away from Pitlochry. In the bus you get a 'safety instruction' which is easy to follow and funny for children. On arrival you are greeted by a dark forest with many coloured lights in the tree crowns. Many balloons with neon flashers stuck in trees.. poor kids. Let's get this clear beforehand, it was a very wet, damp evening. The Enchanted forest was drenched. Alright, for true West Coasters this was no more than a persistent heavy drizzle, but it was WET. The theme this year was called 'absORB' and the light themes where just like that. The pathways are lit by small coloured orbs. We also got ourselves a couple diode balloons, which added to the magic effects. The route took us past many sound and light shows that are difficult to describe. All equally mesmerising and pretty. The main focus was a massive moon-like orb at the entrance. This was visible from all over the site. My personal favourites was the 'evolution' 3D light show projected on a rock face. This was very fluid and pretty. The other was the lake orbs. With the music it was a special showpiece which is reflected into the water of the central loch (lake) creating a mirror effect doubling the experience.. that was truly magical. I could have watched just that all evening. Then there was the (as we dubbed it) 'Dr Who' bridge, that looked like an infinity light speed entrance to another time & dimension. And a great opportunity to take some pictures that don't require night vision camera features. There are several toilets, resting places dotted around. If you do get lost the many stewards are able to guide you on your way. After a few rounds we were a little too wet and the rain was getting heavier. We went back to the bus queue, again fast and efficient. It was a good show and a great experience.

I visited this time for Puff's toddler group trip and was delighted to go back. Smudge has now…read moredeclared herself far too grown up for this sort of activity much to my disgust as I loved our trips here when she was little. This visit was a beautifully sunny day so the perfect day to wander around checking out all the animals; goats, donkeys, GIANT bunnies, guinea pigs, cows, sheep, rats, collie dogs, geese and puff's favourite a cat - we have a cat at home!!! As well as a farmyard full of animals to check out, you can pet lots of the wee ones. A whole barn full of fluffy bunnies, chickens and guinea pigs to stroke. Unless like me you're allergic in which case not touching is a much better option - puffy eyes, manic sneezing and a snotty nose does not make for a fun day out. Once you have spent a happy hour trying to teach a stubborn one year old any animal noise other than meeow, and failed, there is still plenty to do here with an inflatable cow bouncy castle, indoor soft play area, tractors to ride, trampolines to bounce, fossils to uncover and a lovely cafe to eat cake and drink coffee in. It has to be said that a rainy day would not completely ruin a trip to Almond Valley. There is plenty to do under cover and even a big picnic barn to eat in, not to brag but we used it for shade because it was so hot.

This is a lovely little place, a great day out for all the family. Lots of animals to see, an lots…read moreto learn. they're upgrading it all the time so it just keeps getting better and better. They do lots of special activities, Christmas Fayres, Easter, all year round really. they have soft play for toddlers and a new bigger area for older kids. It's got a great little cafe too with friendly staff and good food. It really is worth a visit, you will undoubtedly learn something and have fun while doing it.

This is a pretty standard "birthplace" museum and to be honest not that interesting. However - I…read morehad no idea who Carnegie was, and after this trip (along with the free, enthusiastic mini tour guide) I now have much more knowledge... Great place if you're a Carnegie fan but not that great for everyone else.

Amazing to still be able to go into this great mans house. A museum is attached to it with many…read moreartefacts related to his life, very fascinating. Many people would have heard of Carnegie Hall in New York and may not know who it is named after. He did so much for Dunfermline, and the world. He gave away most of his money as he said; 'to die rich is to die disgraced.' Just a short walk away is Pittencrieff Park which at the time he purchased it, was privately owned and only opened at certain times of the year. He made it a public park, available to all. Wonderful man, wish someone would make a movie of his life.

On a rainy day on our Perthshire holiday we decided to head to the Beatrix Potter Exhibition &…read moreGarden in Birnam for some indoor fun with our 1 year old. I have to be honest I wasn't expecting much, but I was proved wrong. This is a really lovely place that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to visitors with little ones. The exhibition is housed in Birnam's Arts & Conference Centre. Outside is a lovely garden with sculptures of the animals that Beatrix made famous through her books. Inside is a lovely gift shop with Beatrix Potter themed goods, and a great range of non-Potter related cards, books, gifts, toys, and trinkets... Downstairs is the exhibition area. This is relatively small compared to other exhibitions/museums, but it's appeal for us was the great range of play activities for the little ones. From drawing and colouring on blackboards and at old school desks, to playing shop, playing with puzzles, dressing up, and reading books - this was a great way to spend an afternoon with our little one. I feel this is really geared towards younger kids under 8, but was just perfect for our inquisitive 1 year old. Upstairs is the Foyer Cafe, where we enjoyed some lovely coffees. The staff here were really lovely too!

A lovely place to go adult and child alike! Personally, I love Peter Rabbit, Miss Tiggywinkle etc…read moreand this museum is a real tribute to 'Miss Potter', There is a large ish shop selling lovely books and other memorabilia. The 'museum' itself is quite small, yet informative and very hands on for the kids. There are also clothes for the kids to dress up in. Beatrix Potter took holidays in Dalguise in Perthshire (now a PGL centre) before her family changed their holiday destination to the Lakes.

I can't say much more about Culross that Deborah M. hasn't said, but it's a stunning little town…read more in Fife that is beautifully conserved. From the Abbey ruins at the top of the hill running down past the Hanging Gardens, and with lovely little galleries at the bottom, it's a great place to spend a couple of hours. Just a shame you have a view of Grangemouth on the other side, but I think that just about captures the idiosyncracy of Scotland!

Truly amazing NTS property comprising an entire 17th century town, its fabric lovingly preserved…read more Back in the day, Sir George Bruce of Carnock was an innovator and a bit of a shrewd businessman. He oversaw the first modern approach to coal mining and was heavily involved in shipping and import-export to the Netherlands. Signs of this are in the architecture throughout the town as it exists today. The Palace itself was Bruce's family residence and is as it was. Truly atmospheric 17th and 18th century furnishings. Most of the murals are very old. The surrounding gardens are a treat. The hourly tour (free with admission) takes you on a ramble through the cobbled town and into the town hall, the Bishop's house and to the Mercat Cross. You will see a place seemingly untouched by time with amazing little details like the owl holes (ask, you won't be disappointed) and the "risps" on all the doors of the older houses. This was what people used instead of a doorbell. Only things missing are the sounds and the smells. See the film about the house and town shown inside the palace. Hours can be weird and it is shut in winter, though you can walk about the town for free. Bring a packed lunch and make a day of it. There's a play park near the beach for the little people and a tea room nearby. The Abbey up the hill is also worth a look in. That's where Sir George and his family are buried in style. Two thumbs up.

The second time we visited Scotland's Secret Bunker, this time with my parents in tow. It remains…read morean interesting and surprising place and a reminder of what we were worried about during the Cold War (and maybe should be again). You arrive via a country road to a country track at the end of which is what looks like a farmhouse and now is the entrance/giftshop. From there you descend via a staircase to come to a tunnel leading to the bunker which is full of historical equipment and information both new and from the time. A very worthwhile history lesson.

We went there yesterday, and there were very few people there (we went early) so go round unimpeded…read morere social distancing etc. Lots of history to this place and a great opportunity to explore our Cold War past.

Blackness Castle was one of the castles we visited when were in the United Kingdom ( specifically…read morein Scotland). This castle is known as "the ship that never sailed with its pointed stem, square stern, and tall mast". Have you ever watched the show Outlander? If you have, then you are sure to recognize Blackness Castle when you go inside. It was built around the 1440s. In its past, it has been a royal castle, a garrison fortress, a state prison, and an ammunition depot. We had a nice relaxing time exploring the grounds and the castle. It is not too far from Edinburgh, Scotland so well worth the side trip. Have a good time visiting Blackness Castle and check out the gift shop while you are there.

On this years Road Trip through the UK we've seen many many castles, palaces and ruins. As we did…read moreback in 2017. And this one here - the Blackness Castle - stands really out and is definitely one of the best experiences we've had. We booked a time-slot online. Since we are members entrance was free. We arrived within our time slot and got to park right on the property. It's very much recommended to book a slot before visiting. "Outlander" fans might recognize this place from several scenes and episodes from the TV show. In real life the castle is even more spectacular. The waterfront location is just breathtaking and it's a masterpiece to have built it that long ago on these rocks. It's stunning. A bit about the history: Blackness Castle stands by the Firth of Forth, at the port that served the royal burgh of Linlithgow in medieval times. Though built in the 15th century as a lordly residence for the Crichtons, one of Scotland's more powerful families, it soon took on other roles like a royal castle in 1453, a garrison fortress, a state prison and an ammunition depot in the later 19th century. So it has quite the colourful history. And it still stands until today. It's impressive how well preserved it is and how well maintained. You can visit countless rooms, climb the towers and curtain wall. Or walk on the pier to get great views of the Firth of Forth and the castle. Dogs are allowed on all grounds except indoors. There's a shop, several friendly staff members with lots of useful information (some fully dressed up historically accurate). Of course toilets as well. Also so tables for a picnic or just to rest your legs. An amazing visit. I can't praise this place enough. A must-do. It's worth a (long) drive. I could go on. But just check the pics and come see yourself. You won't regret it.

Having not played since I was in primary school (I guess I would have been 9 years old) I was still…read morevery much up for a game. We briefly debated which of Glasgow's laser tag places to visit before being steered towards the one in Clydebank by recommendations from someone's much younger sibling. The laser tag place is called Planet Lazer. So, y'know, nil points for naming. However, they run a mean laser tag place. They're part of a larger complex that also does go-karting. There's a a little cafe inside where you can get drinks and snacks, or wait to meet people, a few arcade style games and, most importantly, the laser tag room (arena?) We each paid £9 for two games, each game lasting 20 minutes, which felt about the right length of time. It's surprisingly tiring and I was glad to hear we had a 20 minute break between our two sessions, while another group took a turn. It's a lot of fun, and at least with our group seemed to feature a lot of screaming, giggle and personal vendettas. We've all agreed that we want to go back soon, so I guess you can call that a success.

Cannot thank the staff enough at lazer planet in Clydebank especially AIDEN who made my son…read moreStevie's day by playing a game of lazer tag as there were no other customers in at the time my son is 22 and has autism with no speech at all and yet this guy made a brilliant effort to make stevies visit a great success we had driven through from Edinburgh in a snow storm to get there and were really warmly welcomed. I can't thank them enough a bunch of really nice staff and a great place to take the kids (and bigger kids) once again thanks especially to AIDEN for going the extra mile for my son oh brilliant value for money too with affordable prices