Child Friendly Holidays

If you’re looking to plan a child friendly holiday to the Scottish Highlands, then look no further than Dornoch. Explore the great outdoors with plenty of family friendly activities including beautiful golden sand beaches, fairytale castles, museums and much more!

There are a number of events happening in and around the local area, perfect for little day-trips!

All Summer

Dornoch Pipe Band - every Saturday night from 8pm, until 6th September.

Dornoch Community Market - Market days in Dornoch are held on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month, from May through September.

The market runs from 9:30am to 1pm on the Cathedral Green. Come and browse up to 30 stalls with homegrown produce, plants, arts & crafts, baking, rape seed oil, butcher, hand made soap, cheese, jewellery, gifts & clothing.

August

Lairg Crofters' Show - Saturday 23rd August

November

Dornoch Bonfire Night - Wednesday 5 November

No family holiday would be complete without a trip to the seaside. A great activity for kids of all ages, there are lots of beaches to choose from in East Sutherland. Grab a bucket and spade from the reception at Royal Golf Hotel, take some snaps of your sandcastle and be entered into our seasonal sandcastle competition! .

Dornoch Beach

Dornoch beach is a great family activity located a short walk from the hotel. A beautiful unspoiled beach with gentle shallow areas for the little ones, Dornoch beach is a fantastic family day out.

A good spot for water activities, you may notice a few paddle boarders while you’re out there – speak to our team if you’d like help hiring equipment. There’s also a wonderful swing park just up from the beach for your little ones to enjoy with a takeaway coffee truck nearby for mum and dad too.

Brora Beach

Brora beach is a 20-30 minute drive from the hotel and sits right next to Brora Golf Club. A beautiful unspoiled golden sand beach that stretches on for miles.

Adventurous families can walk all the way along the beach into Golspie, or if that is too far for your little one’s legs, simply relax in Brora beach for the day – grab a packed lunch from the hotel and make a picnic out of it, build some sandcastles and splash about in the crisp blue sea.

Brora beach is also an amazing location for spotting local wildlife. Common and grey seals often gather along the shoreline and if you’re lucky you may even spot the odd dolphin or minke whale in the sea. Highland cows are also known to appear next to the beach on Brora Golf Club from time to time!

Dunrobin Castle is a truly magical escape for kids who love fairytales. Perched on a high terrace above walled gardens, Dunrobin Castle, with Rapunzel-esque spires and turrets, rises above the North Sea like an illustration from a storybook.

Transport your family back in time with a tour of the castle and a wander round the gardens before stopping for the daily Falconry Display.

Dornoch is located near lots of museums, making it the ideal family holiday location for young budding historians

History Links Museum

The Historylinks Museum is another fantastic educational family activity located only a short walk from the hotel.  Recently awarded the Visit Scotland 5 Star Museum Award, History Links will teach your kids all about the interesting history of Dornoch with interesting exhibits, short films, an interactive children’s room and a coveted Historylinks trail.

Brora Heritage Centre

Brora's Heritage Centre is closed for the 2025 season but will re-open in Spring 2026 in a brand new home at the North end of the village.

Brora has a fascinating heritage and history. Once known as the industrial capital of the Highlands, Brora’s industries included coal, salt, stone, shipping, bricks and much more. For this reason, and many others, it was also the first Highland village to produce electricity in 1913. Learn about all of this and more at the Brora Heritage Centre.

Carn Liath Broch

Between Brora and Golspie stands Carn Liath, a fascinating Iron Age broch – a unique type of Scottish fortification built over 2,000 years ago. With parking nearby and informative signs, it’s an easy and intriguing stop for curious minds.

Baile an Or, Strath of Kildonan

Yes, there was once a gold rush in Sutherland! Just north of Helmsdale lies Baile an Or, a spot where you can still find gold today. You’ll need a permit (available from Glencoast in Helmsdale) and can hire equipment from Timespan Museum & Heritage Centre. Be sure to check the rules before you start panning – and who knows, you might strike it lucky!

Davochfin Farm, Dornoch

A working family farm with beautiful views over the Dornoch Firth, Davochfin offers fishing in four trout-filled lochans, a 10-bay golf driving range, and a 9-hole pitch and putt. Scenic walks lead through the woods and down to the beach, and there’s plenty of wildlife to spot along the way.

Sutherland Adventure Company

For families who love the outdoors, this friendly local team offers paddleboarding lessons, guided walks, and other adventures around the Brora area – all while sharing their knowledge of the area’s landscapes, waters, and culture.

Skelbo Woods, Dornoch

A firm family favourite, Skelbo Woods offers plenty to explore – from pond-dipping for mini beasts to spotting chainsaw-carved woodland creatures. The trails also pass Iron Age remains and impressive drystone walls, with open views along the way.

Big Burn Walk, Golspie

Follow winding woodland paths and cross wooden bridges over the Big Burn until you reach the spectacular waterfall. Along the way, you’ll pass the Skating Pond and the enchanting Fairy Falls – it’s a magical family walk in any season.