5-Bedroom Hot Tub Lodge in Bridge of Cally - Fun Days Out

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.

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.

Glenshee Ski Centre sits above the Cairnwell Pass on the A93 between Blairgowrie and Braemar, in the Cairngorms National Park. It is Britain's largest alpine snowsports area, with pistes spread across several mountains and a mix of runs from gentle greens to the steep 'Tiger'. In winter it is all about skiing, snowboarding and sledging, with lessons and hire on site.

In summer the Cairnwell Chairlift runs, weather permitting, giving 360 panoramic views of the Glenshee Centre on the way up to the summit. It also helps if you want to try Munro bagging, as Glenshee has some beginner ascents. The Tea@TheShee base café is a handy stop for lunch or afternoon tea. There is also geocaching, sightseeing and nature spotting nearby. It suits walkers, outdoor fans and winter sports learners.

Tip: Check the Glenshee website before you go for current opening, chairlift status, parking charges and ticket terms. In winter, booking lift passes and parking online ahead helps you skip queues.

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.

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.

Blair Castle, near Blair Atholl, has been the home of the Atholl family for centuries. Its 30 rooms show off fine 18th century interiors and Scots Baronial architecture, with collections of weapons, paintings, furniture and needlework. The story runs from medieval times to the present day, and takes in the Jacobite risings and a visit from Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

Outside, there is plenty to fill the rest of the day. The grounds include a nine-acre walled garden, a wooded grove with a ruined kirk, a gothic folly and a deer park. Families can use the woodland adventure playgrounds, collect free activity sheets, and dress up in the ballroom. History fans and garden lovers will enjoy it just as much as children do.

Tip: Buying tickets online in advance is cheaper than at the ticket office, which takes card payments only. If you want to see the red deer feeding, call ahead to check days and times.

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.

Blair Athol is a Highland single malt Scotch whisky distillery on the south edge of Pitlochry in Perthshire, close to the River Tummel. It takes its water from the Allt Dour burn, which gave the distillery its first name, Aldour.

Its story goes back to the 1790s. It closed soon after opening, reopened in the 1820s and changed hands several times over the following decades. It closed again in the 1930s, and Arthur Bell and Sons bought the mothballed site and rebuilt it, reopening it in the late 1940s. Two more stills were added in the 1970s, taking the total to four. Diageo came to own it through a merger in the 1990s.