Family Attractions Near Inchture
Museums, castles, wildlife parks and outdoor adventures — days out the whole family will love
Endless Adventures for All Ages
One of the best things about staying at The Inchture Hotel with your family is the sheer number of family-friendly attractions within easy reach. From world-class museums and interactive science centres in Dundee to fairy-tale castles with maze gardens, wildlife parks and outdoor adventures, Perthshire and the surrounding area have something to delight children of every age.
Our central location between Dundee (9 miles) and Perth (12 miles) means you're never far from the action. Most of the attractions below are within a 30-minute drive, making it easy to pack plenty into your family holiday without spending hours in the car — always a bonus with young ones.
Looking for family accommodation too? Our spacious family rooms sleep up to 4, we have a dedicated children's menu at The Priory restaurant, and our gardens offer a safe space for children to run and play. Read more on our family hotel page.
Dundee's Family Favourites
Scotland's sunniest city is a treasure trove for families — world-class museums, interactive science and maritime history, all on the stunning Tay waterfront.
Dundee Science Centre
Ages 3+
Over 80 interactive exhibits spread across two floors, plus a planetarium and regular science shows. Hands-on experiments, optical illusions and a brilliant introduction to physics, biology and engineering. Children can easily spend 2–3 hours here. A perfect rainy-day option.
Discovery Point
Ages 5+
Step aboard Captain Scott's famous ship RRS Discovery, built in Dundee for the 1901 Antarctic expedition. The award-winning visitor centre brings the incredible story of polar exploration to life through immersive exhibitions, interactive displays and the beautifully restored ship herself. Children love exploring the cabins and imagining life at the South Pole.
V&A Dundee
All ages — free entry
Scotland's design museum is an architectural wonder by Kengo Kuma. The permanent Scottish Design Galleries are fascinating for older children, and the museum regularly hosts family workshops, creative drop-in sessions and hands-on design activities during school holidays. The building itself, jutting out over the Tay, is a sight to behold.
Camperdown Wildlife Centre
All ages
Set within the beautiful Camperdown Country Park, this small but excellent wildlife centre is home to over 50 species including brown bears, wolves, Scottish wildcats, lemurs and meerkats. Combined with the park's adventure playground and wide open spaces, it makes a wonderful half-day outing for young families.
Step Into a Fairy Tale
Perthshire is castle country. These magnificent historic buildings captivate children and adults alike with their towers, turrets, grounds and centuries of stories.
Glamis Castle
Ages 5+12 miles · 20 minutes drive
The childhood home of the Queen Mother and the legendary setting for Shakespeare's Macbeth. With its fairy-tale turrets and 600 years of history, Glamis Castle fires the imagination of children and adults alike. The estate grounds feature a nature trail, pinetum and the lovely Italian Garden. Guided tours bring the castle's colourful — and occasionally spooky — history to life.
Scone Palace
All ages12 miles · 20 minutes drive
Where Scottish kings were crowned for centuries. Children love the Murray Star Maze — made from over 2,000 beech trees — and the adventure playground in the stunning palace grounds. The pinetum is home to some remarkable trees, and the palace itself is full of fascinating artefacts and stories. Special family events run throughout the year.
Broughty Castle Museum
Ages 4+ · Free12 miles · 20 minutes drive
A 15th-century estuary fort perched on the banks of the Tay at Broughty Ferry. The free museum inside tells the story of Broughty Ferry's whaling past and local wildlife, with exhibits on the natural environment of the Tay estuary. The rooftop viewpoint offers panoramic views across the river. Combine with a beach walk and an ice cream in the village.
Blair Castle
Ages 6+55 miles · 55 minutes drive
A longer day trip but well worth it. Blair Castle's 30 rooms are packed with arms, armour, paintings and curiosities that fascinate older children. The estate's Hercules Garden and grounds are magnificent, and in May the castle hosts the Atholl Highlanders Parade — Europe's last private army. See our Cairngorms guide to combine with other Highland attractions.
Wild Adventures
For animal-loving families, the area around Inchture offers wonderful wildlife experiences. The Cairngorms Wildlife Park near Kingussie (around 1.5 hours north) is home to Highland wildcats, red pandas, polar bears, snow leopards and wolves — a fantastic full-day outing that can be combined with other Cairngorms attractions.
Closer to home, Camperdown Wildlife Centre in Dundee (15 minutes) is perfect for younger children, with brown bears, lemurs and a nature play area. For a seaside wildlife adventure, take a boat trip from Arbroath or Broughty Ferry to spot seals, dolphins and seabirds in the Tay estuary.
Perth Leisure Pool (20 minutes) is a hit with children of all ages — flumes, wave machine, rapids and a toddler pool make it the perfect rainy-day backup plan. The outdoor adventure centres around Perthshire also offer activities like gorge walking, zip-lining and white water rafting for older children and teenagers seeking a thrill.
Best Attractions by Age
0–5
Toddlers & Pre-School
- • Camperdown Wildlife Centre & playground
- • Scone Palace grounds & maze
- • Perth Leisure Pool (toddler area)
- • Broughty Ferry beach
- • Hotel gardens & Redwood trees
5–12
Primary School Age
- • Dundee Science Centre
- • Discovery Point — RRS Discovery
- • Glamis Castle guided tour
- • Cairngorms Wildlife Park
- • Perth Leisure Pool (flumes)
12+
Teenagers
- • V&A Dundee exhibitions
- • Outdoor adventure activities
- • Blair Castle & Highland history
- • Hill walks (Kinnoull Hill, Dundee Law)
- • Dundee & Perth city exploration
A Hotel That Welcomes Families
The Inchture Hotel isn't just close to great family attractions — it's a family-friendly destination in its own right. Our spacious family room sleeps up to 4 guests and includes a double bed and two single beds, en-suite facilities, free WiFi and a TV. Family rooms start from £90 per night.
Our Priory restaurant has a dedicated children's menu, and our gardens give little ones space to run, play and explore — including our remarkable avenue of giant Redwood trees. For larger families, our self-catering cottage sleeps up to 6 and is just steps from the hotel.
With free parking, a central location and genuine warmth, The Inchture Hotel is the perfect base for a Perthshire family holiday.
Stay With Us
Base yourself at The Inchture Hotel and discover the best family attractions in Perthshire. Comfortable family rooms, children's menu, beautiful gardens and genuine Scottish hospitality — everything your family needs for the perfect break.