How to spend a week in Scotland with kids

This seven-day itinerary is packed full of adventures, days out, exploring and sampling local food. If you only have seven days and love a jam-packed schedule then follow this itinerary and you won’t be disappointed. If you have longer, then spread out the activities and spend longer at some of the wonderful beaches and villages. I am about to share with you how to spend a week in Scotland with kids and save you hours of time trawling for where to go and what to see.

Day 1

North Berwick is so often confused with the town of Berwick but these two towns are as different in location as they are in what they offer.

North Berwick is a small, bustling seaside town with a lively atmosphere, it’s a great place for you to spend the day with kids. There is plenty of parking around the town centre, some free and some with quite a hefty charge, it’s worth having a little drive around to find the free ones if you can.

There is a fantastic park and gardens right in the heart of North Berwick. It’s a great spot to take the kids to have a run around and let off some steam. It's an ideal location for you to take some time out, enjoy a coffee and relax while the kids have fun.

The high street is a traditional and pretty collection of shops, bakeries and cafes with something to suit everyone. The little ones will love the little toy shop and the traditional sweet shop. It has to be one of the biggest collections of sweets I’ve seen and you’ll be swept back in time finding many sweets from your childhood.

There is a mix of some well-known high street shops such as Joules and FatFace, as well as some wonderful independent gift and homeware shops.

One of the main attractions for families is the beach. It is small but perfectly suited to small children with its tidal swimming pool, fine sand and beautiful shells. The shallow pool is built within the sea and fills up at high tide with fresh sea water keeping it clean, fresh and a safe space to swim.

The Scottish Seabird Centre and lobster hatchery are a few minutes stroll away and well worth a visit if you or your little ones are wildlife fans. There is a lovely café inside if you need some refreshments while you are there. You can enjoy panoramic views across the sea from the clifftop walk, they are very narrow however, so do keep hold of any little ones especially if it’s windy.

There are plenty of tea shops serving light lunches and cakes and a couple of small Italian style restaurants and bars should you want something more substantial. If you love good quality handmade sandwiches and cake, visit Bostock Bakery, they serve a delicious selection, but be quick – they sell out in record time.

If you are a coffee geek and love tasting and talking about the best grinds, you’ll love Steampunk on the high street, with an industrial interior and plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, it’s heaven for any coffee fans.

Day 2

Scotland is well known for its many castles. Tantallon is North Berwick’s stunning ruin, which sits on the edge of the cliffs with stunning sea views. It’s well worth a stop off when you are in the area.

For lunch a visit to Drift café is a must. This is by far our favourite place to eat in this area of Scotland. Built from shipping containers and perched on the edge of a cliff, you’ll have views as far as the eye can see, including Bass Rock. We visit this little gem a few times each summer and haven't been disappointed yet. The food is always excellent quality. This year we attended one of their supper clubs and I’d definitely recommend adding this to your list. Think twinkly lights, sea views and a delicious seasonal menu.

A few minutes' drive away is Seacliff Beach. It is a well-hidden bay accessible only down a steep woodland track. There’s something about finding a beach that is little known and usually deserted. A small entry fee of £3 is payable at the top of the track so make sure you have some change before you make the journey here. As you descend the short flight of wooden steps you will be met with a spectacular view of Bass rock. It’s probably as close as you will get to it on land.

When the tide is out, take a walk around the cliffs to get spectacular views of Tantallon castle. The backdrop to the beach is Green and lush, full of trees, which creates a feeling of being deserted on an island. At low tide the powdery sand is littered with a variety of starfish and shells and there are rockpools galore which will excite and entertain your children for hours.

Day 3

A day for adventure! If you love an outdoor adventure, then you’ll love a visit to the five-star Foxlake outdoor adventures. Choose from a huge variety of exhilarating water sports and adrenaline filled activities. Why not try the UK’s first ropes course over water or wakeboarding? There are great activities suitable for younger children too. Be sure to book ahead of your visit as this is a really popular centre. There is a café serving a lovely range of food and drinks to refuel and warm up after all of your water sports.

For lunch take a trip to Bostock Bakery, a beautiful artisan cafe specialising in slow fermentation, high hydration breads, French style pastries and cakes. Every item is made from scratch using local suppliers. Bostock also have a deli and shop to pick up gifts or a few treats to take back with you to enjoy later.

A few minutes' drive away is the Dancing Bear, a huge sculpture built by Andy Scott to honour John Miur. It’s a short walk from Dunbar Garden Centre which has plenty of free parking. A beautiful symbol of wilderness, it is sure to delight both your children and you with lots of photo opportunities if you are feeling creative.

Day 4

Today is a day to visit a movie and music video setting. The small, unassuming village of St. Abbs has been used to film both The Avengers and also the music video of Harry Styles’ Adore You. It’s a gorgeous place for a stroll and some refreshments.

St Abbs is a small harbour with a few cottages and one small café. It’s a pretty working harbour and the café Ebbs Café is a well-known eatery and somewhere I would highly recommend. Their famous dish is their freshly caught crab sandwiches, a tastebud extravaganza! The cakes are baked in house each day. They are huge and have the most delicious flavours, we had to get a few to share as we just couldn’t make a decision.

St Abbs is also well known for the headland walk to St Abbs lighthouse. The 5.8K walk will allow you the most spectacular views from the clifftops and the scenery throughout is breath-taking. I would advise you take drinks and a picnic, stop half way round and admire the views and refuel.

Day 5

Coldingham bay is a small, sheltered beach on the coast in the Scottish Borders. Its soft golden sand and shallow waters is the perfect combination for children. It’s a fantastic place to try out or learn your surfing and body boarding skills – take some tips from the experts who flock here during the warmer months. The facilities are very good at Coldingham, everything you need is on hand making it the perfect place for you to spend a relaxing day.

You’ll find plenty of car parking, toilet facilities and a lifeguard station. You can hire a beach hut for the day (do book ahead) and you can find plenty of good food and refreshments at the beach café.

If you love History, visit Coldingham Priory. Founded in 1098, it is now ruined but is a wonderful place to visit. The gardens are filled with nooks to sit and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. The grounds have wonderful community gardens which have culinary, medicinal and aromatic plants.

Day 6

Melrose is a pretty little town with views of the famous triple peaks of Eildon Hills. Perfect for a morning stroll to take in its Scottish Charm. Melrose boasts a good variety of coffee shops including the delightful Apples for Jam, a gorgeous little café serving artisan coffee and food.

Abbotsford is a must see on a day in Melrose. It was once the extraordinary home of the 19th century novelist Sit Walter Scott. Take a walk in the woodland or explore the beautiful formal gardens. The house itself holds many historic items and is well worth a visit. Enjoy lunch in the café which serves delicious seasonal food and drinks.

In the afternoon head to Melrose Abbey to continue your day of history and culture. This is the best-preserved abbey in the Scottish Borders. Take a stroll through the ruined walls and arches. Just next to the Abbey is Priorwood Gardens. Think rustic walled gardens and an abundance of apple orchards – in fact there are 90 varieties! Run by the National Trust for Scotland it specialises in growing flower species suitable for drying, there is even a gorgeous dried flower shop to purchase some of your own dried flowers to take home.

Day 7

Today is a quiet beach day, Pease Bay beach is a beautiful sheltered bay with great places for swimming, body boarding and surfing. With beautiful soft sand and fabulous rock pools, it is guaranteed to keep little ones entertained for hours. The little shop sells wetsuits and surfboards if you decide to try your hand at some water sports or take some lessons from the surf school near the beach.

When the tide is out walk to the far end of the beach past the red cliffs and onto the small beach behind. It has the softest, white sand and as it is very sheltered it’s often warm. This is a lovely place to sit and relax, have a fire and cook dinner or make s’mores. Keep an eye on the tide and make sure you leave before high tide or you will be trapped.

For lunch pop to the little shop next to the beach and pick up some of their fresh rolls and a few picnic supplies, there is also a small restaurant on site if you want something more substantial.

After lunch take a twenty-minute walk across the Upland way or drive five minutes up the track to the wonder that is Cove. Use the small car park and take the cliffside walk – keep an eye on the cliffs until you find a small opening. Take a torch with you to light the five-minute walk through the dark tunnel and be prepared to have your breath taken away. As you emerge you will be greeted by a beautiful, perfectly formed harbour which feels like you’ve emerged in the south of France. It has a sandy bay and clear, shallow water, wonderful for swimming and paddling. beautiful shells and pebbles adorn the sand and a rustic fisherman's cottage overlooks the bay on one side.

To finish off your day at Pease Bay, book a visit to Hillside Alpacas. This is an Alpaca experience like no other. It is not your usual walk with the alpaca – this is an up-close experience. You will be taken into the field, with 26 friendly alpaca and be able to feed and stroke them for a full hour. We were really lucky on our visit and got to cuddle with a couple of very new baby alpaca.