The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
ON A BUDGET? YOU CAN STILL HAVE TOTALLY BLAM FAMILY DAYS OUT BY TRAIN!
Save your pounds with blamazing deals on rail tickets and favourite attractions when you take train trips on family days out
Dennis loves riding his skateboard around Beanotown but nothing is quite like riding a train, especially for adventurous kids who are always curious about how things work! The train is the perfect way to travel on your days out with your family. With Scotrail’s Kids for a Quid ticket, up to four children can still travel for just £1 return each with every paying adult. That’s great value for money while spending the day with all your loved ones!
You’ll save more with Visitscotland’s Great Days Out campaign, offering incredible deals at some of the country’s most popular attractions this autumn and winter. As Dennis would say, blam-tastic!
Ready to plan a great day out by train? Here’s what Dennis and his friends would suggest:
SCOTTISH SEABIRD CENTRE
Open daily, the centre is a brilliant way for kids to learn more about and care for Scotland’s natural environment. Sign up to join a seasonal boat trip to discover the country’s diverse marine life – from deep sea corals and kelp forests to giant seabirds and marine mammals.
Don’t miss Bass Rock, the world’s largest northern gannet colony, or the Isle of May National Nature Reserve, the biggest puffin colony on Britain’s east coast.
Or, stay in the centre and control cameras on the local islands to witness the different wildlife in their natural habitats. There are also plenty of family-focused outdoor activities to enjoy like wildlife walks and free live science shows. Blam to the max!
The Scottish Seabird Centre is a 15-minute walk from North Berwick train station. Great Days Out offer: Up until 4 December, the centre offers 50% off entry for children to the Discovery Experience. Children must be accompanied by a full paying adult.
SCOTTISH MARITIME MUSEUM’S LINTHOUSE
There’s no better place to learn about Scotland’s importance to maritime history. See the country’s collection of shipbuilding machinery, historic boats, and maritime art – all housed in a former shipyard building called The Linthouse. Kids like Dennis,
Minnie and their Beanotown pals are sure to be fascinated by stories of people who built and sailed Scottish ships around the world. Scottish ingenuity and daring at their finest!
Try out the interactive exhibits and games, like the ponds where visitors can learn how to manoeuvre a sailboat.
The Linthouse is an 11-minute walk from Irvine train station.
Great Days Out offer: Up to three kids can go free with every adult or concession ticket.
DUNDEE CONTEMPORARY ARTS
It will be hard to run out of things to see and do in this cultural hub located right in the heart of Dundee. It has two galleries that showcase the brilliant works of emerging and established artists. There’s also a cinema that often hosts quiz nights and film courses to give audiences richer movie experiences. For artists who want to earn their stripes in creating print, photography and digital work, the print studio provides access to state-ofthe-art facilities. There’s also Create Space, an area that inspires everyone to make whatever their blamaginations can dream up!
Downstairs, the Jute Café Bar offers a children’s menu and even supplies drawing materials for your young artists as you wait to dig in.
Dundee Contemporary Arts is a short 5-minute walk from the city’s main railway station.
Free admission.
RIVERSIDE MUSEUM
You can’t miss this totally blam landmark at the junction of the Rivers Kelvin and Clyde in Glasgow. Designed by internationally renowned architect, Dame Zaha Hadid, this modern building houses the city’s transport museum. There are over 3,000 objects on display, including skateboards, prams, vintage cars and locomotives. Use the dozens of touch screens to know more about each object or get a feel of old public transport through the interactive displays. You can even help put out a fire with the interactive fire engine. Outside, visitors can step on board the Glenlee, one of the few Clyde-built vessels remaining in the world. The museum is a 12-minute walk from Partick train station.
Free admission.
HES, NTS MEMBERSHIPS
For more great family days out on a budget, sign up to become a member of Historic Environment Scotland (HES) and National Trust for Scotland (NTS). You and your family can get free admission to many local attractions and events, offering fantastic opportunities to play and learn at the same time. Membership makes it easy to keep going back to your favourite destinations while helping to preserve Scotland’s rich heritage. HES sites are also taking part in Visitscotland’s Great Days Out campaign and offering Kids for a Quid promotions too. Find out more and get inspired for your next adventure at Visitscotland.com/beano
It was the day the music died. Scotland’s treasured live music industry was one of the hardest hit during the Covid-19 lockdowns. Musicians, largely self-employed and dependent on crowded venues for a living, stayed home, like us all. One of the best ideas to come out of these bleak times was based on a simple premise – get help for cash-strapped musicians to get on the road again once restrictions eased, and bring music to smaller venues in smaller towns. Thus Scotland on Tour was born, aided by £750,000 funding from the Scottish Government, and the town halls were rocking. It cheered everyone up. The bands, the fans, the smaller towns that benefitted from the extra footfall, and all the other people whose skills are essential to the live music industry. It’s a happy song, a great idea made real. Well played!
Gillian Lord Weekend editor