Bang on cue: the beginning of the school holidays has somehow sent a signal up into the skies that the heavens should open right about … now. ⚡️🌧💧 Stuck for ideas on how to entertain cabin-feverish kiddos in the Strath? Here are our go-to wet weather activities to keep the littles entertained (and their parents from losing their minds)!
Ready to admit defeat? Skip ahead to the executive summary: Strathspey Railway, Highland Wildlife Park, Wester Hardmuir Fruit Farm, Aviemore Ice Rink, Miele's Gelateria, Spey Valley Cinema, Candy Coo.
First, a disclaimer. You will probably read this blog and make the decision to go out and get wet regardless … there’s no such thing as bad weather, right? Only bad clothing choices! And it’s true: most visitors come to the Cairngorms expecting mixed conditions and preparing accordingly, even in the summer months.
Maybe you’re ready to throw in the towel, but the towel is too sopping wet. In which case, good news: there is still fun to be had in the Cairngorms even if the weather isn’t cooperating for those sweeping vistas that you had planned.
With this in mind, here’s a top tip for visitors from warmer/drier climes: think about your bottom half too! For toddlers, an all-in-one puddle suit or dungarees (ski salopettes without the padding) will keep them dry if they brush through shoulder-height undergrowth. Everyone else will get the benefit of some lightweight waterproof trousers … cagoules (raincoats) and brollies (umbrellas) just aren’t going to cut it! Pack spare socks, and avail yourself of the numerous clothes-drying options when you get back to the cottage (tumble drier, drying rack, airing cupboard … even a pulley-operated Victorian airer!).
But, maybe the kids are climbing the walls. Maybe they have suddenly professed their aversion to the water with all the conviction of a bedraggled tabby cat. Maybe you’re ready to throw in the towel, but the towel is too sopping wet. In which case, good news: there is still fun to be had in the Cairngorms even if the weather isn’t cooperating for those sweeping vistas that you had planned. Read on!
All aboard the Hogwarts Express!
Okay, so it might not be the actual Hogwarts Express ... but Balnagowan Cottage is close enough to the Strathspey Railway that the signature “woo-woo” and ever-quicker chugs of the steam train tend to carry across the valley on a northwesterly breeze. It’s whimsical, nostalgic and super-fun for the toddler train nerds among us … as well as everyone else! Boarding in Aviemore at 3pm, adults can enjoy full-service afternoon tea and a return ticket for £40, with under-5s travelling for free. Other options (e.g. light lunch, fares without food, family tickets) are also available. In all, this is a little under 2 hours you can while away out of the rain, taking in majestic views across to the Cairngorm mountains without having to get your feet wet!
Drive-thru wildlife
In the height of the pandemic, the Highland Wildlife Park was our go-to on a rainy day: a drive-thru safari with some interesting species that range from polar bears and bison to tigers and wild horses. Proceeding around a one-way system, our kids love to free-range in the confines of the car, playing nature reserve bingo and pretending they’re the ones driving. If you can dodge the rain, they also have an excellent play park (zip wire and penguin slide) plus food trucks and a walking tour of the animals in enclosures. Currently (Summer 2023) there is a brand new brood of arctic fox cubs, who are literally too cute to be true.
Strawberry Fields Forever
As a suggestion this is a bit left-of-field, but if rain suspends play you might want to check out the PYO (pick your own) berries at Wester Hardmuir Fruit Farm. With most of the soft fruits growing in polytunnels, it is one way to spend a little time “outside” while retaining some protection from the elements. Cherries, gooseberries, raspberries, redcurrants and strawberries are among the summertime selections, but check their Facebook page for up-to-date fruit forecasts. And if the raincast indicates the occasional dry spell, the kids might enjoy the play area: their large slide and several in-ground trampolines are often supplemented in summertime by a small fun fair on the weekends. Pricing is competitive too, especially with the current supply chain issues in the supermarkets.
Thrills and Chills
How can we improve on cold and wet? Why, cold and dry of course! Under the cover of a marquee at the Macdonald resort complex, Aviemore Ice Rink is an all-weather activity suitable for all abilities. Bob-skates and skating aids are available, with skate hire included in the price of a session ticket: £14 adult / £12 child / £5 under 5s. And if you’re subscribers to the view that “ice cream solves everything” (who isn’t?!) then why not double down on the chill factor? Across the road at Miele’s is the area’s finest selection of Sicilian-inspired gelato, with enough indoor seating to go around.
Singin' in the Rain
Of course you could venture further afield to Inverness in search of indoor activities for kids. There you will find all the rainy day amenities of any modest-sized city: trampoline park, botanic gardens, cinemas, shopping malls and the secondhand bookshop of your dreams! But the goal of this guide is to save you the travel time and draw attention to the less likely local places to huddle. Similar to the ice rink, the Spey Valley Cinema on the Macdonald resort complex is low-key but worth it. Screenings include some recent releases and plenty of oldies too. (You may even catch Gene Kelly splashing through the puddles … rather him than you, right?!) Bring a pillow (the seat comfort is more “conference hall” than cushy) and be prepared to BYO snacks (the concessions stand is closed when the cinema isn’t busy, which it seldom is). Better still: make an advance stop at the Candy Coo in Grantown. This old-fashioned sweetshop sells an intriguing selection of imports and floor-to-ceiling favourites for sale by the quarter-pound.
Stay and play
But sometimes when the weather doesn’t want to play ball … neither do you. And that’s okay too! Twister, Articulate, Top Trumps and Battleship: Balnagowan Cottage has a large selection of indoor games and children's toys for those “Stuff it, let’s stay in!” moments. A log fire for lighting; a cosy, cushion-filled teepee for iPad snuggles; a window seat for curling up with a good book (and a view); a smart TV/speaker and high-speed internet for streaming whatever your heart desires (Singin’ in the Rain? Too soon?) … it’s all here, and it’s all yours. We can’t control the weather, but we can keep you warm and dry in your home-away-from-home!
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