Beech Hedge Lodges - Fun Days Out

Scone Palace is a Category A-listed historic house near the village of Scone and the city of Perth. Built in red sandstone with a castellated roof, it is a fine example of Gothic Revival style. For centuries the site held the Stone of Scone, on which early Scottish kings were crowned, and Robert the Bruce was crowned here in 1306.

You can explore the State Rooms, then wander the extensive grounds and parkland, which have views over the River Tay. The grounds include a collection of fir trees and a star-shaped maze. The palace has been home to the Murrays of Tullibardine since 1600, and it is still the family's home today.

It is a good pick for anyone who enjoys Scottish history, stately homes and a leisurely walk through landscaped grounds.

Tip: To follow the Stone of Destiny story further, Perth Museum displays it; tickets for that are booked through the museum's own website.

Perth Museum sits in the former Perth City Hall, an Edwardian building that once hosted markets, concerts and political conferences. At its heart is the Stone of Destiny, also known as the Stone of Scone, used to crown Scottish monarchs and still used in coronations of the UK's kings and queens. It has returned to Perthshire after more than 700 years.

Alongside the Stone you'll find Perth and Kinross's nationally significant collections, plus loans and exhibitions. Objects include a 3,000-year-old logboat pulled from the Firth of Tay, a mummified woman named Ta-Kr-Hb and a rare cloak made entirely of kākāpō feathers. There's a café, a museum shop and lift access to all floors. Families and children of all ages are welcome, and quieter visits are possible on Thursday and Sunday mornings.

Tip: The Stone of Destiny experience needs a timed ticket, which you book at the front desk, so sort this out early in your visit.

Glamis Castle stands beside the village of Glamis in Angus and is open to the public. It has been the home of the Lyon family since the 14th century, though the present building dates largely from the 17th century. It was the childhood home of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, and Princess Margaret was born here in 1930. Shakespeare's Macbeth lives at Glamis in the play, and the castle appears on Royal Bank of Scotland ten pound notes.

The estate covers more than 57 square kilometres, with parks and gardens. Look out for the mile-long avenue lined with daffodils, the 17th-century statues along the approach, and an arboretum overlooking Glamis Burn with rare trees from all over the world. The castle is also known for the legend of the Monster of Glamis, a deformed child said to have been kept hidden in the castle.

Tip: Leave time for the grounds as well as the castle: the daffodil avenue and the arboretum overlooking Glamis Burn are part of the estate.

Huntingtower Castle sits about 5 km north-west of the centre of Perth, beside the A85, and is in the care of Historic Scotland. Mary Queen of Scots stayed here in 1565 while on honeymoon with Lord Darnley, and the castle has seen plenty of other dramatic episodes, including the Raid of Ruthven in 1582, when the young James VI was seized here.

The layout is the odd part. Two tower houses stand close together, built a few metres apart and later joined, and they gave rise to the tale of the Maiden's Leap. Inside, look for the delicately painted ceiling dating from about 1540, and try to find the secret hiding place for Ruthven treasures: a cupboard within a cupboard, hidden behind a stone. It's a good stop for anyone who enjoys castle stories and Scottish history.

Tip: Tickets can be booked online for a set date and time, so book ahead before you go.

V&A Dundee is Scotland's design museum, set on Dundee's waterfront. It was the first building in the UK designed by the Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, whose idea was a "living room for the city", and its outer wing reaches out over the River Tay. It is also the only V&A museum outside London.

Inside, the exhibition galleries show temporary exhibitions, some with an entrance fee and some free to explore. The Scottish Design Galleries cover subjects from architecture and fashion to furniture and video game design, and include Charles Rennie Mackintosh's Oak Room, originally a Glasgow tearoom. Stories from the Building looks at how the museum was made. Free self-guided audio tours are available through the Smartify app.

When you want a break, Tatha Bar & Kitchen serves lunch, scones and afternoon tea, and there is a shop. For families, there is a buggy park and baby changing facilities.

Tip: Parking is in the nearby Dundee City Council car parks, and the free Smartify app audio tours let you explore at your own pace.

Meigle Sculptured Stone Museum is in the centre of the village of Meigle, on the A94 between Coupar Angus and Forfar. It fills the former parish school and displays a striking set of carved Pictish stones from the late 700s to late 900s, all that survives of the Picts' power centre here. The collection is one of the most important of its kind in Western Europe.

Look out for Meigle 1, the oldest cross-slab, with Pictish symbols, horsemen and animals. Meigle 2 is a tall cross-slab with Daniel in the lions' den, and Meigle 26 is a grave-marker carved with animals, birds, horsemen and naked figures. You can also see rare architectural fragments of the Pictish church, and there is a fun fact-finding quiz to follow as you go round.

Tip: Standard tickets are booked for a specific date and time, so check the booking page before you set off.

Blair Drummond is a family safari park just outside Stirling, set in a 120-acre estate with over 300 animals. You can set out on a drive-through safari past the African reserve, home to Grant's zebra and southern white rhinos, the lion reserve and the Asian reserve with Bactrian camels and Père David's deer. There is also an optional Monkey Jungle reserve for Barbary macaques, plus an elephant enclosure and a dinosaur exhibit with moving, noisy models.

Away from the animals, there is a bird-of-prey display, a big adventure playground with a pirate ship and adventure fort, part of it under cover for wet weather, and fairground rides. You can also walk the chimp path to a viewing platform. Food ranges from a restaurant and grill to cafés. Wood-fired pizza and desserts may be closed on weekdays. You can also bring a picnic; there are undercover benches if it rains. It's a good choice for families with children.

Tip: Tickets are online only and none are sold at the gate, so book ahead, especially at weekends and school holidays when it often sells out.

Deep Sea World is an aquarium at North Queensferry in Fife, set in a disused quarry below the Forth Rail Bridge. Its star feature is a 112 metre transparent underwater tunnel, one of the longest of its kind in the world. Most animals in the main tank come from British waters, alongside a large collection of sand tiger sharks. There are also tanks and rock pools of exotic fish, plus a seal enclosure that is home to resident seals and injured ones rescued by the SSPCA.

Talks and feeds run through the day, and the Bridge Cafe looks out over the seals and the bridge. Older children and adults can book shark dives, and there are junior dives for ages 8 to 15. The ramps run throughout, though there is no lift, and prams and wheelchairs must stay off the moving walkway. Parking on site is free.

Tip: Check the talk and feed times when you arrive and allow a couple of hours before closing so you don't miss them.