The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
EMBARK ON A SCIENTIFIC JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY WITH SCOTRAIL
From transport and technology to tales of outer space, keep mini scientists entertained with Scotland’s celebrations of all things science. And they’re all easily accessible by rail!
Scotland’s science centres and museums are treasure troves of discovery for young explorers. They’re all about learning weird and wacky facts to share with friends, discovering all there is to know about other planets and getting inspired by all of the inventions and machinery created both recently and long, long ago.
We all know Dennis and Gnasher like to invent toys and tricks to help them with their mischief making, but even they would be enthralled by the wonders of the world displayed in the science centres in this very country – all of which are reachable by train.
Indeed, available all year round, Kids for a Quid tickets from ScotRail mean your Scottish science adventure can begin as soon as you step foot on a train. Up to four kids can travel off-peak for just £1 return with every fare-paying adult.
Travel from city to city, learning as you go and inspiring the smallest scientists in your family.
Here are some of the blammest celebrations of Science that Scotland has to offer… which one will you visit first?
DUNDEE SCIENCE CENTRE
Dundee Science Centre’s entire purpose is to bring people together to enjoy science. Its values of enthusiasm and creativity come through in its wacky architecture and unique interior design.
This centre celebrates curious children and encourages them to be inquisitive and ask every question that comes to mind!
From sensory zones of sounds and light, to an augmented reality operations theatre for young medical marvels, there is an abundance of totally blam experiences here to completely captivate your kids.
And, if you need some sustenance after a long day of discovery, Café Create is open to all those who hold an admissions ticket. There is also a shop which sells all sorts of oddities and novelties to impress friends and family, keeping the experience alive even when you get home!
Dundee Science Centre is on Greenmarket, just a seven minute walk away from the train station!
GLASGOW RIVERSIDE MUSEUM OF TRAVEL AND TRANSPORT
For little ones who love trains, planes and automobiles, this museum is a mustvisit. The building itself could feature in a gallery of art; its wavy lines and towering shape were designed by the internationally renowned architect, Zaha Hadid.
It’s completely free to enter the museum, which showcases incredible collections of transport and technology which have been gathered over hundreds of years. Why not compare the old trains features in the museum with the ScotRail train you take on the day? How much has changed?
With everything from vintage cars and prams to Stormtroopers and skateboards – you just know Dennis would love it here. Kids can even help put out fires with an interactive fire engine!
And, just across the River Clyde, you’ll be able to spot the Glasgow Science Centre. This is another place of discovery full of activities and displays ideal for keeping little people entertained for hours. It’s just a fifteen minute walk from the Riverside Museum when you cross over the famous Millennium Bridge.
Get the ScotRail train to Partick via Glasgow Queen Street or Glasgow Central. From here, it’s just a nine minute walk to the Riverside Museum.
DYNAMIC EARTH EDINBURGH
Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh is a place designed to inspire children and adults alike to explore and discover everything there is to know about the world around them.
It is a celebration of learning, with workshops running frequently for children of all ages, and a planetarium which shows films exploring the ocean, outer space and volcanos.
Dino’s Club is Dynamic Earth’s very own learning club for children under 14 and holds events on science, crafts, storytelling and outdoor activities. There are plenty of workshops taking place throughout May and June, so hop on a train and come along! Dino makes learning so fun, even Dennis would enjoy school if it was anything like this!
Dynamic Earth is located just off Holyrood Road, next to Holyrood Park. Take the ScotRail train to Edinburgh Waverley, and it’s just a 15 minute walk to the dynamic looking building!
Welcome to the special Fitness Edition of your life, where we are celebrating all things sporty and energetic. Whether you are a runner, swimmer, walker, or someone who likes to look good when they work out, we have something for you. The team were chatting about our own sporting preferences and decided that to combat the effects of various lockdowns, spring would be the perfect time to bring you this edition, with one eye on getting fit for summer. But that needn’t be your only motivation for adding some exercise to your weekly routine. Sport can bring so many benefits, from improved health to social inclusion, not to mention mental wellbeing boosts, too. And with a recent report illustrating the many challenges girls and women can face when it comes to taking part in sport, we hope this edition encourages everyone to get involved and share in the joy that exercise can offer.
Eating well goes hand in hand with exercise as part of a healthy lifestyle, so we’ve spoken to two experts on how to fuel our bodies. And you’ll be pleased to hear that carbs can be good for us!
From unusual sports such as underwater hockey and hot yoga, to a Highland walk and a military fitness experience, we have a variety of features for you today. We even have some top health tips from our very own Yvie Burnett on this page.
It sounds like we have inspired Yvie to dig out her running shoes, and we hope this edition does the same for any of you looking for that all-important kick-start.
Do let us know if we’ve spurred you on, we’d love to hear your sporty stories. David Dalziel your life editor