interesting ideas for great day out with kids in glasgow
6 the best family-friendly places for day out with kids in Glasgow.
Are you looking for an interesting ideas for day out with kids in Glasgow? When it comes to family days out in Glasgow we’re truly spoilt for choice. But with such a large variety of places to go with your family and things to see, it can be tricky to plan a day out that’s fun for every family member (and that won’t break the bank).
So, if you’re struggling to find your family’s next day trip, this list is for you!
Wide open spaces, outdoors activities, plenty of fun and magical enchanted woodland. All in a safe and secure environment.
If you want to feel in the country without leaving Glasgow you should visit Pollok Country Park. It’s the largest park (146 hectare) in the city with extensive woodlands and Maxwell’s amazing mansion built 1752. The rustic bridge over the River Cart, the river weir, the extensive formal and informal
gardens and the famous highland cattle make the place perfect for a family day out.
11km of tracked woodland paths are almost all properly paved, in good enough condition to take a pram along.
And what’s the most important, there’s loads for a children all ages to explore. My kids love running around the grounds of Pollok house in the little garden “maze”. There is a little fairy trail, Old Stable Courtyard and Sawmill worth to see. You can spot kingfishers flitting down the river and goosanders. Roe deers live in the park too.
There is a nice play park across from the Burrell Collection. It ‘s not massive but there is planty things for kids to attract everyone, despite the age.
In the park there are several car parks available at the Burrell Collection and Pollok House, free of charge.
INTERESTING FACTS about Pollok country park:
1. You can take part in Mountain Biking training here at three different skill levels.
2. Pollok Country Park featured in seasons 1, 2 and 4 of Outlander
3. The park is accolade of ‘Europe’s Best Park”
Drumpellier Country Park is another great place for family day out with kids in Glasgow. This mazing park has a wide range of kids-friendly facilities and nature paths.
You can take a walk around the Lochend loch, feed the ducks and swans or, what I recommend the most, you can veer off into the forest paths and off the beaten tracks. It is worth going a little further into the woodland, moorland and grasslands to see the scenic views. All paths are in great condition to take a pram, bikes or scooter.
The new big wooden play fort is great for kids. It is huge with bridges to walk over, slides, ladders and climbing ropes/wall. There are also a few swings and see-saws. My kids loved it there.
You can finish your walk with a hot chocolate in the cafe or ice-creams from the Van.
All attractions and car park is free of charge.
The park itself isn’t huge. There are over 3 miles of paths across the park, to walk around the loop it takes about 25 minutes. However there’s tons to do. Cuningar Loop is an exciting woodland park onthe banks of the River Clyde perfect for family day out adventure. You can enjoy a stroll along the riverside boardwalk (my favourite part) or forest trails, relax with a picnic in the large open meadow.
But what makes the place special are the bike tracks and the bouldering area (Scotland’s first outdoor bouldering park). There are three bike pump tracks for kids with a different range of abilities and ages. My children absolutely love this part they can spend hours going over the humps and bumps. The adventure play area is suitable for kids all ages, with slide, swings, tree tunnel, a sand pit and lots of climbing logs frame
Rouken Glen Park has everything you may ask for an ideal day out with kids in Glasgow. From easy parking, park or wooded areas for walks, kids play area, waterfall and duck pond, public toilets, plus a nice cafe next to the pond with the best ice-creams in whole Glasgow.
We love to start the day with a walk along the trails and boardwalks to enjoy the beautiful moss-covered trees, ferns, bridges, rock formation. Rouken Glen Park includes some very unusual rocks formed around 325 million years ago and because of this it is a protected Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
The Glen River Walk has 2 parallel paths that sit higher up on the edge of the gorge either side of the Auldhouse Burn. Both paths are relatively easy walks. All the Glen Walks are interconnected to each other by bridges, paths and stepped areas throughout. For a more challenging walk, you can try the ‘Devil’s Staircase’ with its 100 steps.
My Recommendation
I would recommend to take a good pair of shoes especially around the waterfall, it may be slippy and muddy. My kids just love this part of the track, muddy puddle walk. They love play park over there as well as there is lot’s of slides, swing, climbing webs.
During summer there are some bouncy castles and other inflatables attraction for children to jump on.
I wish there would be more picnic benches in the park.
The main attraction of the park is Hogganfield Loch, a large shallow loch with a wooded island. A circular tour round the loch takes around 45 minutes. The lochside paths are wide, easy and flat,great for bikes or scooters.
It’s a good place to take young children who are just learning to cycle. There are two kids play parks at the park. A small play area for under-fives just next to the car park and an adventure area for older children with a metal cable climbing frame on the other side of the loch.
Kids can play as well on two sandy ‘beach’ areas. However, be aware that signs warn of toxic algae, so swimming and paddling is discoura.
What we love the most about the Hoggienfield is the enormous number of birds. I’ve never seen so many swans in a long time. Apart from swans you can spot there coots, moorhen, cormorants, goldeneye ducks and of course the ubiquitous seagulls.
This is a nice inner-city spot to escape the hustle and bustle of Glasgow.
Mugdock Park is on the top place for us for our family day out. It’s real oasis on the edge of Glasgow. The park is so large and we’ve walked here many times, no two walks are ever the same.
You can totally unwind and relax spending hours walking and there is planty attractions for kids all ages. A play park for younger kids is next to the Visitor Centre with an adventure play park out the back.
atractions at Mugdock Park
Inside the country park are also little waterfall, Craigend Castle, Mugdock Castle and Mugdock Loch. The ruins of Mugdock Castle are truly spectacular, perfect place for picnic and for playing hide and seek. My kids love it, it’s became our traditions. On the way to Mugdock Castle there is a wooden boardwalk and behind the castle there is a loop around the loch. The paths are wide enough for bikes and prams. I would recommend do wear wellies as kids may get a bit muddy.
Mugdock Park is a perfect place for family day out with kids in Glasgow. The scenery is beautiful and changes as the seasons pass.
What I found very handy, a good amount of free car parkings located on the different corners of the park. So if you wish to go just to the ruins you can leave the car at the south car park and it take just 10min to get to the castle.
