For fun and adventure, head to the Wild West of ol’ Perthshire, pardners!
With autumn upon us, it’s that time of year when parents are looking for different ways to keep the kids and the rest of the family entertained.
Luckily, just outside Perth at Burnside Farm, Stanley, you’ll find Active Kids Adventure Park, a place chock-full of fun. While the indoor soft play is a popular part of the attraction, it is the outdoor adventure park that visitors flock to from miles around.
The park is packed with activities which range from mini digger and push tractors – as part of Tractor Ted’s Little Farm for those under seven – to crazy golf and target football. The park is also home to a play fort known as Fort Burnside, a large building with slides, bridges and more inside, themed as a Wild West town. Fort Burnside is complemented by the nearby 59ft tall pirate ship play zone, where kids and their families can sail the seven seas.
Gill Whiteford is manager of Active Kids Adventure Park, and while all of the attractions with the park are loved by visitors, she says there is one stand-out attraction that’s always a big hit.
“The most popular attraction we have here at the adventure park is the adventure fort or the pedal go-karts. We have larger go-karts available with additional seating on the back for smaller children, or we have smaller go-karts for the younger visitors to enjoy by themselves,” says Gill.
Fun and education often go hand in hand, and Active Kids Adventure Park’s animal paddocks bring this to the fore. As the park is located on a farm, the animal paddock gives the youngest visitors the perfect way to learn about and meet many farm animals.
There are plenty of friendly animals to encounter in this controlled environment, including goats, horses, cows, sheep and even a couple of alpacas. This interactive experience is not only good fun but spending time with these animals is an experience kids will remember for years to come.
While the attraction is primarily a centre for children, that’s not to say there isn’t anything for adults to enjoy. The on-site cafe is open to anyone, even if they are not using the rest of the facility.
All of the food is locally sourced and you can expect warming homemade soup, perfect for a chilly half-term day, alongside sandwiches and home baking. The cafe also has an ice cream counter, serving tasty treats from local Stanley business Stewart Tower Dairy.
The farm is located on the Five Mile Wood route, complete with an access path. This four-mile circular route is a great place to walk or cycle with the whole family. This scenic wooded walk can take up to two hours to complete, so finishing it with a stop at the park cafe may be the perfect ending.
With so many activities to keep the wee ones energised and on their feet, Active Kids Adventure Park certainly lives up to its name while giving those of us who are a little older a place to relax and watch the fun.
As manager of the park, Gill sees visitors come and go daily and the joy she sees around her never gets old.
“My favourite part about running the adventure park is hearing the laughter of the children playing and seeing their smiling, happy faces when they are here enjoying the fresh air,” says Gill.