Dornoch is renowned for its safe and welcoming environment, making it an ideal spot for families with children. The town’s friendly locals and relaxed pace create a peaceful atmosphere where parents can unwind, and children can explore.
Beaches and Outdoor Fun
One of the highlights of a family friendly holiday in Dornoch is the beautiful Dornoch and Embo beaches. These expansive stretches of golden sand are perfect for building sandcastles, flying kites, and enjoying picnics. The beach is clean, safe, and family-friendly, providing endless fun for kids of all ages. The gentle waves make it a great spot for paddling and swimming, ensuring a delightful day by the sea. And the fantastic Dornoch Beach Wheelchairs ensure that everyone can enjoy the beach, no matter their physical condition.
Festivals and Events
Dornoch hosts several family-friendly events throughout the year, adding extra excitement to your holiday. The Dornoch Highland Gathering, always on the first Friday of August, is a highlight, featuring traditional Highland games, races, bagpipes, and Highland dancing. It’s a fantastic way for families to experience Scottish culture and participate in community festivities. The week immediately following the Games is when Dornoch hosts its Festival Week, providing a packed programme of events for all ages including a sandcastle contest, car treasure hunt, pet show and legendary ‘window spotting’ competition.
A visit during the Easter or October breaks might reward you with the chance to witness the enchanting Northern Lights, and seasonal events such as spring lambing, Guy Fawkes Night and Hogmanay celebrations mean there’s plenty to see and do throughout the year.
Go dragon hunting in Dornoch!
There could be a dragon living in the Highlands and Winston the Bear needs your help to find it! Local legend tells of a fiery dragon that once lived in Sutherland, roaming the hills and scaring the townsfolk. Set in Dornoch, the children’s book ‘Winston the Bear and the Dragon of the Black Firs’ follows the story of Winston’s hunt for clues as he searches for this elusive dragon. When visiting Dornoch why not follow in Winston’s pawsteps and go on a family dragon hunt? What proof can you find that the dragon may still be here? A dragon’s lair, claw marks, dragon scales or maybe even some dragon poop? Keep your eyes peeled, the dragon could be anywhere! Share your dragon hunting investigations with other Winston the Bear fans on Facebook and Instagram using #dragonhuntinginthehighlands. Winston would also love you to tag him @winstonthehighlandbear.
Grannie’s Heilan’ Hame
Embo boasts its very own Parkdean holiday park, “Grannie’s Heilan’ Hame”, with several facilities that are open to the public including a swimming pool, tennis courts, crazy golf and much more. There is also a bar, restaurant, live entertainment, a convenience store and takeaway. The park is right on Embo beach which boasts the best rockpools around!
Skelbo Woods Walk
Families love the variety in Skelbo, from dipping for mini beasts in the wildlife pond beside the car park to hunting out the chainsaw-carved woodland creatures along the trail. It’s a fun forest full of interesting twists and turns, open views and fascinating features, including the remains of an iron age broch and some impressive drystone walls.
Natural Play area at Camore woods
Camore Woods has a natural play area which includes tunnels, dens, a fort and games for children and the whole family. Soak up the tranquility of the forest whilst watching out for buzzards hunting voles, roe deer flitting through the trees and woodland birds feasting on wild raspberries and blaeberries in summer. Hidden in the forest are more than 25 hut circles and chambered cairns.
9-Hole Pitch & Putt, Driving Range and Fishing at Davochfin Farm
At Davochfin Farm there is open air recreation for everyone. You can fly or bait fish in the lochans for rainbow trout and watch the Osprey come in for his lunch or if you are very lucky see the otter playing in the water. You can even cook your fish on the BBQ provided. Practice your swing at the 10 bay driving range before honing your short game on the 9-hole Pitch and Putt course, with holes ranging from 50 – 100 yards. For a peaceful walk, head through the gate on the footpath to the sandy shore of the Dornoch Firth. Refreshments, ice-creams and equipment hire are available at the cabin, where you can also pick up a bug hunting kit for £2.50.
Historylinks 5* Museum
Historylinks is one of the very few 5 star museums in the Highlands. Dedicated to the history of Dornoch parish, current displays include a golf professional’s workshop where Donald Ross honed his skills, Carnegie at home at Skibo, the shameful burning of Scotland’s last condemned witch and the impact of the Picts and the Vikings. Films include Sutherland in 1950 and the Dornoch Light Railway. There are lots of games for children as well as costumes to dress up in. Visitor translations in German, French, Italian, Spanish and Swedish.
Natural play area and leaping salmon at the Falls of Shin
Follow the winding road through Achany Glen to a forest clearing where salmon leap and children play. You’ve reached the Falls of Shin, a wonderful starting point for a range of trails through beautiful mixed woodland and along the rocky banks of the Shin. It’s a great place to get out and enjoy the forest whatever your ability – there are natural play areas here and easy trails suitable for all users.
Seals and bird watching at Loch Fleet Nature Reserve
Loch Fleet, a sea loch, lies just north of Dornoch and is a haven for fauna and flora. Common and grey seals are easily spotted basking on the sandbanks of the Fleet at low tide, and there are numerous bird species to be found dabbling in the shallow waters as well as orchids and butterflies. Easy walking trails make it accessible for even the youngest family members, and you’ll find pine-scented forest walks on the north shore, accessed via the village of Golspie. The woodland supports species such as Scottish crossbills, crested tits, and pine marten.
Soft Play at the Kyle of Sutherland Hub
Just 13 miles from Dornoch, on the road between Bonar Bridge and Ardgay, The Hub provides an excellent choice for a family-friendly day out with a bespoke three-level indoor soft play centre featuring two large slides and plenty of climbing and crawling tunnels to explore for children aged 0-12. Enjoy a hot drink, smoothie, cake or sandwich from the cafe whilst looking out at the spectacular views of the surrounding landscapes. We also have a youth room for older children, a well-equipped fitness suite and an outside kick-a-bout area.
Archaeological Adventures
The Tarbat Discovery Centre across the water in Portmahomack offers families the chance to become archaeologists for the day in their Stones and Bones Pit. You can also visit the underground crypt and view ancient Pictish Stones and a Viking silver hoard.