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Dumfries Dino Park & Other Kid-Friendly Activities

Dino Park in Dumfries is a huge hit with young children – dinosaurs are all the rage nowadays and Dino Park certainly delivers.  Read more about what makes this park such a hit, and ideas for other kid-friendly days out in Dumfries & Galloway – whether your children are primary school age, highly active pre-teens, or growing-up-fast teenagers who need more to occupy them than a bouncy castle.

Dino Park in dumfriesDino Park, Carrutherstown

Dino Park in Dumfries is 28 miles (45 minutes drive) from Coastal Kippford and is open 7 days a week.  It’s great fun for all ages, and as you wander round the park, look out for realistic models of dinosaurs hiding in the greenery, including everyone’s scary favourite – the T-Rex – and a sharp-toothed Velociraptor, amongst many other pre-historic beasts.

For the youngest visitors, there is the Dino Soft Play area, great for adventurous toddlers, and for braver kids, they can visit the Dino Mine and discover what lurks inside.

Dino Park in Dumfries is a great, inexpensive venue for some fun family time, with family tickets (2 adults + 2 children) costing just £17.  Discover more about the park on the Dino Park website.

Mabie Farm Park, Mabie

This is a great place for kids who love animals, riding on tractors, climbing walls, playing in a soft play area, riding on a mini train or zooming round on a quad bike.  So that just about covers off the majority of kids!  It’s just 15 miles (25 minutes drive) from Coastal Kippford and be prepared to stay awhile – there’s so much to see and do.

On the animal front, there are fields of Shetland ponies, llamas, horses, goats, and plenty of birds milling around – hens, ducks, turkeys and peacocks, to name but a few.  The barn houses Vietnamese Pot Bellied pigs, plus the farm is host to rabbits, mice, guinea pigs and chipmunks.  Donkey rides are on offer, and animal feed can be purchased on-site.

When the weather is kind, there are loads of things to do outside, including the Astroslide (suitable for both adults and children), grass sledges, bouncy castles and trampolines.  To escape poor weather, the indoor areas offer a pets’ corner, climbing frames plus the Farmer’s Den soft play area for the littlest ones.

All in all, Mabie Farm Park offers an excellent day out for the whole family, and a family ticket (2 adults + 2 children) costs £30.  Discover more about the park on the Mabie Farm Park website.

The Cocoabean Company, Twynholm

Situated 17 miles (25 minutes drive) from Coastal Kippford, The Cocoabean Company is a family-run chocolate factory which produces luxury hand-crafted chocolates using traditional methods.  This Dumfries venue is a chocolate-lovers delight, whatever their age!

Kids can take part in Chocolate Workshops (no need to pre-book; cost £16 per child) – they get to make and decorate three chocolate goodies, which they can take home.

Outside there is a large play area including a pirate ship, climbing frames, swings, the big red wavy slide plus rides on tractors and racing cars.  Inside is a generous soft play area (with a separate area for the under 4’s) – guaranteed to keep the kids entertained.  Better still the cafe overlooks the indoor play area, so parents can relax with a drink and food whilst keeping an eagle eye on their offspring.

Discover more about the park on the Cocobean Company website.

The Devil’s Porridge Museum, Eastriggsdevils porridge museum

The Devil’s Porridge Museum is close to the Scotland/England border, 45 miles (1 hour drive) from Coastal Kippford.

This museum tells the story of the local First World War Munitions Factory, how it was key in providing munitions for the war effort, and how munitions workers from across the British Empire came to work there.  It also covers other aspects of both World War I and World War II with interactive exhibitions, including life in the trenches, life at the munitions factory and life at home in the 1940’s.

It’s unlikely to be a hit with very small children, but those aged 8+, who are interested in learning more about times gone by, will be fascinated (and amazed) to learn about how life was in Britain during the World Wars.

An educational and interesting activity for both adults and children alike – and the The Devil’s Porridge museum is well deserving of its 5 Star Visit Scotland Attraction status.

A family ticket (2 adults and up to 3 children) costs £13.50.  For more information, visit The Devil’s Porridge website.

Forrest Estate Experiences, St John’s Town of Dalry

Forrest Estate Experiences is 30 miles from Coastal Kippord and takes about 50 minutes to get there, but is definitely worth the drive if you have older kids who are interested in trying out clay pigeon shooting or air rifle shooting.

They offer “have a go” sessions (or as they call them, their “touristy” experiences) which are ideal for families – great fun but still educational.  They supply lighter guns and ammunition when required.  All sessions are on a one-to-one basis with fully qualified shooting instructors, so you know you’ll be guided properly throughout your experience.

Have a go clay pigeon shooting and Have a go rifle shooting prices start at £50 per person.  For more information, visit Forrest Estate Experiences website.

Dumfries & Galloway Aviation Museum, Dumfries

An excellent outing for children who aren’t still in the toddler years.  The Aviation Museum is filled with interesting sights that will leave your children in awe.  Even adults will benefit from learning more about the historical background of the different aircrafts.  There are usually a number of events that take place at the museum so be sure to keep an eye out for them if you will be visiting the area.

Along with the different aircrafts, visitors can also take a closer look at the engines and control rooms that keep the planes in the air.

Dalscone Fun Farm, Dumfries

Whether it’s raining or sunny outside, this is a great day out, particularly if you have younger kids.  The Dalscone Fun Farm has an indoor play area with slides, and ball cannons.  Outside, children can enjoy everything from bumper boats and trampolines to crazy golf.  There is even an animal farm that has llamas, pigs, donkeys and more.

Whether you’ve teeny tots who would prefer to play in the soft play area at Dino Park in Dumfries, chocaholic kids who can’t wait to create their own chocolate delights, older kids interested in days of old, or budding shooting experts, at least one of the locations above will match their needs.

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Coastal Kippford (aka Kippford Holiday Park)