Holidays are the perfect opportunity to relax with the family, but if you’ve got young children, slowing down is usually the last thing on their minds. Keep them – and the rest of the family – happy with our top tips for fun things to do with toddlers around Aviemore. Find out where the locals hang out, get ideas for rainy days and discover the best places to eat with your little one in tow.
As soon as your little one is old enough to enjoy a playpark, they’ll have the time of their life at Landmark. Many attractions are suitable for small children, including a scaled-down ropes course, water slides and Dinosaur Kingdom (which has a massive sandpit). Don’t miss the ride-on section, which gives them the chance to drive their favourite farm animal around while you watch from the side.
This wildlife park doesn’t just have amazing animals (think polar bears, snow leopards and tigers) for little kids to get up close to: there’s also an excellent playpark handily located next to the car park, and a gift shop and cafe selling the essential items of ice cream and take-home cuddly toys.
Coylumbridge Hotel has two small pools side-by-side that are perfect for little swimmers. One even has a slide. One-hour swim slots can be booked up to a week in advance on 01479 813 070 (choose the leisure club option), and there’s a park around the back of the hotel for afterwards.
The only public leisure pool on our list, the Craig Maclean Centre has a 25m pool and spacious shower and changing facilities. During the week, it’s mainly used for lane swimming and by the local schools, but every Saturday and Sunday morning, there are relaxed family splash sessions with floats and toys provided. Book in advance by phoning 01479 870281.
The MacDonald Spey Valley Resort has an attractive pool for your toddler to splash around in, plus a whirlpool and sauna for adult relaxation. Booking in advance isn’t possible here: head to the resort’s reception area to check availability and pay.
Nestled among the trees just outside Carrbridge, Lochanhully Resort has a small, quiet swimming pool plus a steam room and sauna. There’s an onsite cafe for refuelling at after, and little kids will enjoy the playpark and duck pond outside. As at the Macdonald resort in Aviemore, you simply turn up at the resort’s reception area to check availability and pay.
This treehouse-themed soft play centre is split over three fun levels, and there’s also a dedicated Toddler Zone and quiet room if things get a little too rowdy. Free Wi-Fi will keep adults entertained, and you’re in an excellent location for further exploration, thanks to the adventure golf, games room, playpark and swimming pool which are all within a stone’s throw.
This four-storey soft play centre provides hours of exploration and fun for young kids, with slides, nets and tunnels to navigate, and there’s a cafe area at the bottom so you can relax while providing your little one with drinks and a rest station. Usually reserved for resort guests, it’s open to anyone on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for £5 per child.
It may be a longer drive to get there, but award-winning Frankie and Lola’s offers a brilliant soft play experience for kids of all ages, including toddlers. Open seven days a week from 10am to 6pm, each session lasts 90 minutes and no pre-booking is required. The cafe serves quality, locally sourced food and, most importantly, coffee.
Each village in Strathspey has a playpark, so why not do a tour with your toddler and take advantage of what each one has to offer? The park in Nethy Bridge is next to a lovely riverside wander, while Grantown-on-Spey provides brilliant food and drink options in its local shops for before and after. In Carrbridge, you could tag on a game of football on the grassy pitch connected to the park, and in Boat of Garten, try the all-abilities Capercaillie Trail, which is the perfect distance for little legs.
The path to Lochan Mor (better known by locals as the Lily Loch, thanks to its abundance of lilypads) was upgraded in 2023, making it perfect for buggies, bikes and small people just getting the hang of their feet. Park near the Rothiemurchus Farm Shop and head through the metal gate to begin.
Stunning Anagach Woods has a selection of waymarked trails to suit all abilities, with loops ranging from one to five-and-a-half miles. Park at the edge of the town to find the starting point for all of them. The red loop brings you to the River Spey: the perfect picnic spot for longer strolls.
It’s hard to beat the views from this well-kept path, which rolls through heather alongside a steam railway line. Make a day of it and do it in both directions: no matter which end you choose to start at, you’ve got great options for refreshments at the turning point. .
Many of the attractions listed above have kid-friendly cafes, and all the towns and villages near our lodges – Carrbridge, Nethy Bridge, Boat of Garten and Grantown-on-Spey – have great food and drink options. Sometimes though, you want to enjoy a proper evening meal alongside your toddler. Head to our blog on the best restaurants in Aviemore and the Cairngorms and scroll down to the family-friendly section to see our top tips for places to eat with little ones.