The snowdrops are out in their drifts and incredibly, there’s very nearly a daffodil coming into bloom on ‘Grandpa’s Grove’ on the main drive, so it feels like spring is just around the corner. I mustn’t be fooled though as I gather snow and an icy blast is due in south west Scotland any minute now. However, we always seem to escape the worst of it here on the Rhins Riviera, much to our children’s annoyance.
Despite the forecast though, my thoughts have turned to spring and the Easter holidays and to all the wonderful and varied activities in Dumfries and Galloway for families in April. Over the next few weeks I’ll aim to research a number of these to give you a few ideas for some enticing day trips and how to keep the children busy when school’s out. Here’s this week’s top three picks:
The Wild Spring Festival, which celebrates wildlife, farming and the great outdoors, takes place across Dumfries and Galloway, with over 100 fascinating wildlife events throughout April from badger watching and red deer spotting to nocturnal wildlife tours, with special thermal imaging cameras. To celebrate Scotland’s Year of Food and Drink, this year’s festival will focus in particular on the region’s exceptional natural larder resources.
Logan Botanic Gardens is the country’s most exotic garden, stuffed with exotic plant species that thrive there because of the Gulf Stream. On Easter Sunday, Logan is hosting an Easter Egg Eggstravaganza, with face painting, egg painting – always a firm favourite with our children – and an Easter egg hunt to top it all. There are other events at Logan too during the holidays including Bugs and Beasties on 2 April and Make your own Bird Feeder on 9 April.
Easter Daffodils at Logan Botanic Gardens
Near Gatehouse of Fleet, the Cream o’ Galloway award-winning visitor centre is open every day from 21 March (incidentally, it’s also open for the February half term from 14-22 February). Apart from the firm family favourites from the go karts and the zip wire to the recently launched ‘Go Boing’, from 28 March to 19 April, at this wonderful ice cream destination you can ‘Meet the Lambs’. Newborn fluffy things abound! This event is as popular with mums, dads and grandparents as it is with children. You even get the chance to have a proper cuddle with them.
Meet the Lambs at Cream o’ Galloway
Oh dear, looking out of the window it looks like the weather is closing in! Maybe I’ll be able to post some snowy photographs at Corsewall Estate Holidays Cottages after all!