Scotland for Families

Teenage Kicks

When your children reach that certain age, teetering on the brink of adulthood, you may find that they look for something just a little bit different.

Looking for adventure? How about kitesurfing on deserted beaches under big skies, scrambling and rock climbing in dramatic picture-postcard scenery, or getting down and dirty on the best mountain biking trails in Europe.  Why not try paragliding and get some serious air time by seeing Scotland from the skies?

Surfing in Scotland is another totally exhilarating experience. Ride the big rollers and forget the cold – once you’ve got a wetsuit on, you could be in Hawaii! Or take to the water by going sea kayaking with seals and dolphins for company. More unusual is ‘river bugging’ where you run rapids on Scotland’s rivers in a kind of inflatable armchair.

For a real adrenaline rush, try the weird and wonderful sphereballing, or zorbing - probably most easily described as a human hamster ball.  You roll down a Perthshire hill at great speed, harnessed in to a 10ft cushioned plastic sphere. Zorbing is also a great spectator sport, if you don’t fancy having a go yourself.

Teenagers also love thrills of a spooky kind. There are many mysteries and hidden horrors lurking in Scotland’s dark corners. Get in the ‘spirit’ of things at Edinburgh Dungeon, or go on a hair-raising ghost tour of the capital’s Old Town for a close encounter with its notorious former residents. Immerse yourself in horrible history at the Hidden Valley in Glencoe, or visit famous battlefields like Bannockburn and Culloden. And of course, there's our dear monster Nessie in Loch Ness, and you can look for Nessie's cousin Morag at Loch Morar on the west coast.

Shopping is often high on the list for many teenagers’. If they are more into high street style than souvenirs, they will be in their element in Scotland’s cities. Edinburgh abounds with individual boutique stores, while Glasgow is rated second-only to London in the retail stakes boasting big brand outlets, top department stores and a plethora of boutiques in the trendy Merchant City.