Easter is a great time to get the family out and about and there’s lots going on in Dumfries and Galloway and Ayrshire during the school holidays. I’ve pick out a few of the best events in south west Scotland in this week’s post and as I know there are others still to be confirmed, including the opening of the amazing maze at Dumfries House, I will do some more foraging in early March to see if I can add to this list.
There’s lots of fun and games at Kirroughtree Visitor Centre in the Galloway Forest Park on Easter Sunday, 27th March from 10am – 4pm, including the Easter bunny and also Owl Magic. We’ve seen Owl Magic on a number of occasions and they have a wonderful team of tame owls of all shapes and sizes from across the globe. Events are free and there’s no need to book.
From Good Friday to Easter Monday at Culzean Castle and Country Park you can go hunting for the Easter bunny – children are invited to follow the clues, solve the puzzle and their reward, is guess what, something made of chocolate. From 1-18th April, based at the Swan Pond and Adventure Cove, the rangers will be running hands on adventure activities for children throughout the holidays.
Culzean Castle and Country Park
The RSPB centre at the Mull of Galloway, located on the most southerly point in Scotland, is organising its annual Easter egg hunt on Saturday and Sunday, 26th and 27th March. The centre is also holding a number of ‘Seabird Spectacular’ events from 1-3pm on Monday, 28th March, Thursday, 30th March, Tuesday, 5th April and Thursday 7th April. The site is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest and there are about 30 hectares of heathland on the coast to explore with dramatic views. Don’t forget to wrap up warm as even on the sunniest day the wind can make any walk quite bracing to say the least!
As well as taking part in the events, if you have a head for heights, take the opportunity to climb the working lighthouse at the Mull of Galloway – 115 steps later you can find yourself around the balcony at the very top – an absolutely breathtaking experience I can assure you. And for a fascinating insight into lighthouses and how they worked take time to visit the museum on the ground floor.
Mull of Galloway Lighthouse
There’s also the Gallie Craig Coffee House and gift shop at the Mull of Galloway. Built into the cliff, with its turf roof, it has a unique architectural design and has spectacular sea views – on a clear day you can see Ireland, Isle of Man, Wales and the Lake District. From 25th March until 31st October it is open from 10am to 5.30pm.
Aldouran Adventures – an open day – is being held at the Aldouran Wetland Garden at the neighbouring village of Leswalt on Monday, 28 March from 10am to 4pm. There will be a number of events taking place in the gardens, the wetland and the woodland areas. Take the opportunity to walk through the Aldouran Glen Wood, which is one of only a few ancient woodlands left on the Rhins peninsula. There is also a bird hide and there are lots of birds and animals to spot from warblers to wood peckers and red squirrels to roe deer. There’s also a pop up cafe in the Leswalt village hall running throughout the day.
We still have availability during the Easter holidays at our four star holiday cottages in Dumfries and Galloway, south west Scotland – Stables Cottage, Garden Cottage and Cedar Lodge in Portpatrick, which sleep 4, 6 and 8 respectively, with prices from £550 for seven nights – you can book online here.