Don’t let the rain stop play

You can have fun and games.. even if the weather is rubbish

IT’S the summer holidays and, inevitably, that means you can’t rely on it being dry outside.

But there are plenty of fun family activities under cover, from sledging to bouncing on trampolines.

MARIA CROCE takes a look at fun options for rainy days out with the kids.

Snow Factor, Glasgow

Forget the fact it’s summer and immerse yourself in the snow indoors, with the chance to try different sports, from skiing and snowboarding to sledging.

It’s Scotland’s only year-round ski centre with real snow and boasts the longest indoor real snow slope in the UK.

Prices: sledging 30 minutes (three years plus) costs £10 for juniors and £12 for adults. A one-hour ski or snowboard taster lesson (six years plus) costs £29 each or £89 for a family of four. Open seven days a week. Tel: 0141 885 7000. www.snowfactor.com

Edinburgh Dungeon

Take an underground journey through Scotland’s dark history. If you’re wanting scary fun, there are professional actors, special effects, live shows and rides packed into this experience.

Will you dare to step into the dingy 17th-century Edinburgh courtroom to face Judge Mental?

Prices: online tickets from £14 for adults and £12 for children. There’s a combi deal with Sea Life Loch Lomond for adults £21 and children £19. Not recommended for children under eight. Opening times (until end of August): from 10am with last tours at 5pm (Monday to Thursday) and 6pm (Friday to Sunday). www.the dungeons.com/edinburgh

Sea Life Loch Lomond

Walk under the water through the tropical ocean tunnel as you see fish swimming around.

There are 1500 creatures to see, including sharks, clownfish and rays, in more than 40 displays. Touch a starfish in one of the rockpools and find out about conservation.

Prices: online savings for adults from £10.46, kids (three to 14 years) from £7.46. Under-threes are free. Opening times: daily from 10am. Last admission 4pm. www. visitsealife.com/loch-lomond/

Kartstart

Get on track for a day out in the fast lane. Kartstart has two indoor circuits in Scotland – in Kirkcaldy and Bridge of Don, Aberdeen – with a range of top karts. Prices: various options, including a family of two adults and two kids for 20 minutes at £68. Minimum age is eight, minimum height 4ft 3in, but at Kirkcaldy there are options for four to eight-year-olds. Kartstart Kirkcaldy, 01592 650200. Opening times: Monday, 1pm to 10pm; Thursday, 3pm to 10pm; Friday, 1pm and 10pm; Saturday and Sunday, 12noon to 9pm. Kartstart Aberdeen, 01224 823030. Opening times: Monday, 1pm to 10pm; Friday, 1pm to 10pm; Saturday and Sunday, 12noon to 9pm. www.kartstart.com/

Flip Out

Get jumping over 63,000sq ft of trampolines in Rutherglen, near Glasgow. There’s a Ninja obstacle course, a battle beam section over a foam pit, a basketball court, a bungee run and a 5m helter skelter into a ball pit.

Prices: standard jump one hour £11, four and under (with a supervising adult) £5.50, supervising adult £5.50. Opening times: Sunday to Thursday, 10am to 8pm; Friday and Saturday, 10am to 9pm. Tel: 0141 406 1600. www. flipout.co.uk/locations/glasgow/

Wonder World Soft Play

On a wet day, you can’t beat a soft-play centre. Wonder World Soft Play has bases in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Falkirk and Kirkcaldy – and one in East Kilbride with chocolate making and go karts. Prices: £1 for under-ones, £4.95 for others. Adults free. Chocolate factory £9.95. Opening times: Sunday to Thursday, 10am to 5pm; Friday and Saturday, 10am to 5.30pm. www.wonder worldsoftplay.co.uk/