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A DAY OUT FROM GLASGOW

Are you looking for an epic day out? Do you want to explore Scotland more? Get your children off their screens?! Then look no further - here’s some great family activities to pick and mix from and some great spots for food for a fantastic day-trip from Glasgow by car.

There are so many great things to do in Scotland but for an easy drive, epic scenery and tonnes of fun then head this way! Although it’s only 1.5 hours by car from Glasgow (or an hour’s drive from Oban or Dunoon) to our door here at Inveraray Jail, there are lots of things to see and do along the way, too. Use code BLOG6 for 10% off your Inveraray Jail ticket price when you book online.

Leave the bustle of Glasgow and head West along the A82 where you’ll reach the Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond and the mighty Ben Lomond ahead. Take a pit-stop at the historic village of Luss or start your adventure with a speedboat ride (best to book ahead) or a hunt for the multitude of fairies that inhabit the woods around here. Loch Lomond Faerie Trail is a mile long and takes upwards of an hour. Dogs are welcome on leads.

Continue on your way and take the A83 via the Rest and Be Thankful where a brief pause at the car park at the top will allow you to rest and be thankful for the amazing view!

Carry on along the A83 to Ardkinglas Woodland Garden in Cairndow Village where you’ll not only find another magical fairy trail (Argyll is the spiritual home for many fairies) but there have also been some sightings of a Gruffalo. This beautiful, mature garden has a mixture of trails suitable for different abilities with some that are accessible for pushchairs. Dogs on leads are welcome here, too.

For a rainy day activity then the Adventure Zone at The Fyne Den is a few miles further on and has indoor and outdoor play areas with wooden structures and a huge sand pool.

Although the Adventure zone is used mostly by 0-12 year-olds, teens and adults are encouraged to join in and play together as a family. Slots are 1hour 45mins - make sure you book your tickets online!

For the more adventurous types and just a couple of miles on you’ll find Argyll Adventure, where you can have a 20 minute pony ride (age 4+), a trek (age 10+), indoor and outdoor laser tag as well as crossbow shooting!

You will have built-up a great appetite after your morning adventures so park up* in Inveraray and settle down for some lunch in town at the new family and dog-friendly brunch restaurant Ocho of Inveraray or at the atmospheric café Brambles of Inveraray, café and bistro on Inveraray Main Street.

Now that you’re suitably full-up on some great Scottish grub head to the Church Square at the top of Main Street where you’ll find Inveraray Jail - closely guarded by two sentries at the entrance.

As you take a step in, you also take a step or two back in time to an era where life was hard and life in prison was even harder.

This 19th Century prison is brought to life by realistic wax figures and by living costumed characters who will guide you around the grounds and animate the jail’s past with stories of the inhabitants of this atmospheric, ancient building. Watch out for the stern Matron, watchful wardens and escaped prisoners as you explore the historic prison buildings.

Have a go on the ‘Whipping Table’ with birch whips or try out the thumbscrews and crank machine as you learn about historic torture and punishments of old.

There’s a great gift and souvenir shop here at Inveraray Jail - open to the public all day or you can have a stroll along our picturesque Main Street where you’ll find a dedicated whisky shop - Loch Fyne Whiskies, gift shops, The Harbour Art Gallery and a traditional country outfitter - MacIntyres of Inveraray.

For a meal before you head home, The George Hotel is a characterful, family-friendly pub in the heart of Inveraray with not-to-be-missed home-cooked food.

There’s plenty of car parking in Inveraray town but some free on street parking spots only allow an hour so it’s best to pay a little for a car park.