NC500 ROAD TRIP
Family Activities Guide
The NC500 Family Activities Guide is built for families travelling the route with children and teens, whether you’re tackling it clockwise, anti-clockwise, or in bite-sized sections. It goes beyond the obvious and focuses on things families actually ask for: hands-on activities, adventure days, creative spaces, indoor options for wet weather, and reliable stops that break up long drives.
Each area is laid out in geographic order, with clear details on age suitability, location, rough costs, and practical essentials like parking, toilets and cafés. From beaches and boat trips to archery, quad biking, pottery painting, soft play, leisure centres and escape-style games, this guide is designed to help you plan days that work for everyone, whatever the weather decides to do.
Think of it as your planning tool, backup plan and sanity saver for doing the NC500 as a family.
Inverness (NC500 start/finish)
1) Inverness Leisure (pools, flumes, family swim)
Ages: everyone
Location: Bught Lane / The Bught Park area, Inverness
Seasonal / session times: The leisure pool timetable changes in Highland school term vs holidays (it’s published as specific session blocks, plus weekends year-round). Check the live swim timetables before you go.
Rough cost: £6–£9 per swim session (varies by ticket type)
Amenities: Indoor venue (toilets + café on site).
Inverness Leisure
Inverness Leisure Centre is one of those places that does a bit of everything. Locals swear by it. Visitors quickly get why. There’s a big swimming pool, a proper gym, soft play, and loads of classes for all ages. Perfect for burning off energy on a rainy Highland day or keeping your routine going while you’re in Inverness. Easy to reach, family-friendly, and always buzzing.
2) Infinity Trampoline Park Inverness (big bounce energy)
Ages: 3–15
Location: Inverness (Telford Retail Park area)
Seasonal / session times: Year-round, but session times can vary (especially around school holidays). Book online for the slot you want.
Rough cost: Usually £8–£12 per session (plus grip socks if required)
Amenities: Indoor. Toilets on site. Food/drink options on site or next door (retail park).
Perfect for burning off road-trip energy before you head north on the NC500.
Infinity trampoline Park
Think wall-to-wall trampolines, dodgeball courts, basketball jump lanes and foam pits that give even adults a reason to smile. It’s one of the top family activities in Inverness if you’re after something energetic, quirky and just plain fun - and perfect for rainy days or keeping kids entertained while visiting the Highlands. Packed with sessions for all ages and even sensory-friendly jump times, it’s a proper Highland hotspot for kids, teens and big kids alike.
3) Frankie & Lola’s (soft play + café)
Ages: Most suited for uo to 10 years
Location: Inverness
Seasonal / session times: Open daily 10am–6pm. Peak times are typically weekends + school holidays, and holiday hours can vary.
Rough cost: Around £8.99 off-peak / £9.95 peak (babies cheaper, adults free).
Amenities: Indoor. Toilets + café/bistro on site.
The easiest wet-day win with younger kids.
Frankie & Lola's
Fankie & Lola's is the kind of family hang-out that pulls you in whether it’s raining or you just need a break from wandering the Highlands. It’s a big indoor soft play centre with colourful frames, slides, tunnels and spaces for toddlers right through to older kids to run off some energy, and for a couple of hours of fun and chaos.
4) Inverness Kart Raceway (indoor electric go-karting)
Ages: 8–15 (check height rules; junior sessions available)
Location: Inverness (Fairways Business Park area)
Seasonal / session times: Term time vs school holidays hours differ (term time typically opens later on weekdays; holidays run earlier starts).
Rough cost: From £14+ depending on session/race format.
Amenities: Indoor venue. Toilets on site.
A proper “thrill” activity that still works in sideways rain.
Inverness Kart Raceway
Inverness Kart Raceway is where you go in Inverness if you want to swap sightseeing for speed. This indoor go-karting arena is a proper favourite for families, groups and thrill-seekers alike, with a slick 320-metre track full of straights, hairpins and chicanes that make every race feel like its own mini Grand Prix.
It’s all weather, all year fun - rain or shine you can book junior sessions for kids and adult races.b Because the karts are modern, electric and punchy, it’s a cleaner, quieter and surprisingly competitive ride.
Whether you’re chasing lap records with the crew or just fancy a high-adrenaline couple of laps, this is one of Highlands’ top indoor activities to blast away boredom and add a bit of friendly rivalry to your Inverness itinerary.
5) The Ledge Climbing Gym (bouldering + café)
Ages: From 5yrs
Location: Telford Street area, Inverness
Seasonal / session times: Year-round. Typical hours: Mon–Fri 10:00–22:00, Sat–Sun 10:00–18:00 (bank holidays may differ).
Rough cost: Varies by session/age; expect a paid entry + possible shoe hire
Amenities: Parking + toilets + baby change, and food/snacks available.
Active, confidence-boosting, and brilliant for teens who “don’t do museums”.
The Ledge
If you’re after something a bit more vertical than your usual day out, The Ledge Climbing Wall is where all the action happens in Inverness. It’s the Highlands’ big indoor climbing and bouldering hang-out, with walls and challenges for newbies, families and serious climbers alike. From fun boulder problems and auto-belays for first-timers to performance-level routes and strength areas that Olympians train on, this place has it all. What makes it extra cool? It’s built around community and positivity, with yoga, fitness space and a café too, so it’s just as good for hanging out as it is for scaling walls.
Whether the rain’s lashing down or you just want a lively, active stop on your Inverness trip, The Ledge is a proper Highland favourite for families and climbers of all levels.
6) Inverness Museum & Art Gallery (IMAG)
Ages: From aged 5
Location: Castle Wynd, Inverness
Seasonal opening times:
April–October: Tue–Sat 10:00–17:00
November–March: Tue–Thu 12:00–16:00, Fri–Sat 11:00–16:00
Coffee shop is seasonal too (reduced winter hours).
Rough cost: Free entry (donations welcome)
Amenities: Indoor + coffee shop on site.
Inverness Museum & Gallery
A Highland favourite for anyone into history, art or a mix of both. Right in the heart of Inverness, this free-entry museum doubles as a gallery and takes you on a journey from the geology and natural world of the Highlands, through ancient Pictish stones and clan stories, to Jacobite relics and bagpipes, all with plenty of local flavour.
7) The Clay Studio Inverness (pottery + classes + parties)
Ages: From age 5 (with help)
Location: Inverness (Merkinch area)
Seasonal / session times: Year-round. Example opening pattern: closed Mondays + Sundays, with longer days midweek (published on their contact page).
Rough cost: Varies by class/workshop; budget £10–£30+ depending on what you book
Amenities: Indoor studio. Toilets on site.
Clay Studio
The Clay Studio in Inverness is a lively, down-to-earth creative space where clay meets all kinds of people. It’s not just a pottery class – it’s a workshop hub where beginners, kids and adults can get stuck into hand-building, wheel-throwing and glazing in a relaxed, friendly vibe.
You’ll find a mix of one-to-one lessons, group sessions, Saturday kids’ clubs and seasonal workshops that make it perfect for trying something new, spending a couple of hours getting messy, or gifting a proper “make-your-own” experience.
8) Inverness VR Experiences (bookable immersive VR)
Ages: Check individual experiences for minimum age
Location: Inshes area, Inverness
Seasonal / session times: Open 7 days 10:00–19:00, by appointment (booking essential).
Rough cost: Usually £10–£20+ depending on session length/package
Amenities: Indoor venue. Toilets on site.
Inverness VR Experiences
Inverness VR Experiences is where you can press pause on reality and dive head-first into another world right in the Highlands. Think cutting-edge virtual reality games, free-roaming VR arenas, thrill rides and immersive escape adventures that suck you in from the second you put the headset on. Whether you’re storming through multiplayer shooters with mates or solving puzzles in a VR escape room, it’s proper next-level fun for birthdays, group days out or just a wild afternoon trying something different
9) Wildwoodz (archery + outdoor adventure sessions)
Ages: varies by activity
Location: By Munlochy (short hop from Inverness)
Seasonal / session times: Available for booking year-round (sessions and events run on selected dates).
Rough cost: Varies a lot by activity (their price list shows examples; many activities sit in the £15–£45+ range depending on what you choose).
Amenities: Outdoor venue. Facilities vary by event/session (best to confirm when booking).
Wildwoodz
Wildwoodz Adventure Park Inverness is one of the Highlands’ wildest outdoor activity hubs just a short drive from Inverness. This is perfect if you’re itching for something active, outdoorsy and a bit different. Set in a proper forest playground, the whole vibe here is all about adventure with paintball battles, lasertag missions, archery bouts and even axe throwing on the menu.
10) Eden Court (cinema + family shows)
Ages: Depends on which film/show
Location: Inverness city centre riverside
Seasonal / session times: Building opening times are consistent weekly: Mon–Tue open from 4pm; Wed–Sun open from 11am (showtimes vary daily).
Rough cost: Depends on film/show; budget £6–£15+
Amenities: Indoor venue. Toilets + food/drink on site.
Eden Court
Eden Court Inverness is the beating cultural heart of the Highlands right on the banks of the River Ness. This lively arts hub does everything from theatre and cinema to art exhibitions, music gigs, dance and family shows all year round and with a programme that changes as fast as the Inverness weather.
11) Go Quest Adventures (self-guided city “escape room” walk)
Ages: All ages but 10+ will understand the game better.
Location: Inverness city centre route via the app
Seasonal / session times: Play whenever you want (best in daylight so clues are easier).
Rough cost: £28.95 covers up to 5 people - under 10s do not count as a player and pay £0
Amenities: Outdoor, city-based (toilets/cafés as you go).
It’s the NC500-friendly version of an escape room. Fresh air. Still feels like a game.
Go Quest
Go Quest Adventures turns a wander round Inverness into a proper Highland treasure hunt. Instead of a regular walking tour, you download the Go Quest app, hit the streets and unlock a city-wide adventure by cracking clues, solving puzzles and ticking off challenges as you explore
West Coast Leg of the NC500
1. Garve & Strathgarve (A835 corridor)
Rogie Falls
Ages suitable: All ages
Location: 57.59039668234162, -4.607596902526945
Activity type: Waterfall walk
Season: Year-round (most dramatic after rain)
Rough cost: Free
Parking: Rogie Falls Car Park
Toilets: No facilities
Silverbridge Riverside Circuit
Ages suitable: All ages
Location: 57.63677959481635, -4.678241845334141
Activity type: Forest walks, waterfall
Season: Year-round (daylight best in winter)
Rough cost: Free
Parking: Silverbridge Car Park
Toilets: No facilities
2. Loch Glascarnoch & Glen Docherty (between Garve and Ullapool)
Loch Glascarnoch
Ages suitable: All ages
Location: 57.720919894847015, -4.875421092148742
Activity type: Shore exploration, wildlife spotting, short walks
Season: Year-round
Rough cost: Free
Parking: Small Car Park
Toilets: No Facilities
Glen Docherty Viewpoint (slightly off course)
Ages suitable: All ages
Location: (Achnasheen) 57.582999067274436, -5.2360033467066724
Activity type: Viewpoint
Season: Year-round
Rough cost: Free
Parking: Large layby
Toilets: No facilities
3. Ullapool (main west coast activity hub)
Ullapool Museum
Ages suitable: All ages
Activity type: Indoor museum (wet-weather friendly)
Season: April – Oct: daily / Winter: reduced hours
Rough cost: £6.50 adults, under 18s free
Parking: Nearby public parking
Toilets: Nearby
Ullapool Museum
Ullapool Museum is a small but fascinating Highland museum tucked into a beautiful old church building right in the heart of Ullapool. It’s the place to jump into the story of Loch Broom’s people, from crofting and fishing to emigration and maritime life, all woven through engaging exhibits and local archives.
Seascape Expeditions
Ages suitable: All ages
Activity type: Wildlife boat tours
Season: May–September (weather dependent)
Rough cost: £35–£55 per person
Parking: Harbour parking
Toilets: Nearby
Seascape Expeditions
Seascape Expeditions is one of the best ways to experience the wild sea side of the Scottish Highlands from the water. Based in the beautiful fishing port of Ullapool, this boat tour outfit specialises in wildlife-focused RIB adventures around Loch Broom, the Summer Isles and out into The Minch - with options to spot everything from playful dolphins and grey seals to sea eagles and, at the right time of year, whales.
Ullapool Kayak Hire
Ages suitable: All ages
Activity type: Kayak hire / guided paddles
Season: Late spring – early autumn
Rough cost: £25 – £40
Parking: Harbour area
Toilets: Nearby
Kayak Summer Isles
Kayak Summer Isles is one of those unforgettable Highland adventures that turns sea, sky and coastline into your playground. Based out of Ullapool, locals and visitors alike can join guided sea kayak and canoe excursions out into the wild waters around the stunning Summer Isles
4. Lochinver
Loch Inver
Ages suitable: All ages
Location: 58.14845321548686, -5.262254528087337
Activity type: Shore walks, wildlife spotting
Season: Year-round
Rough cost: Free
Parking: At the bay
Toilets: Nearby
Culag Woods
Ages suitable: All ages
Location: 58.143882474983094, -5.242871129474005
Activity type: Woodland and easy path walk
Season: All year
Rough cost: Free
Parking: On site
Toilets: Please note there are no toilets
5.Coigach Peninsula (turn-off north of Ullapool)
Achmelvich Bay
Ages suitable: All ages
Location: 58.1701591944376, -5.305550869824795
Activity type: Beach play, paddling, rock pools
Season: Year-round (best May – September)
Rough cost: Free (parking charge)
Parking: Pay & display
Toilets: Seasonal
Clachtoll Beach
Ages suitable: All ages
Location: 58.18933833597745, -5.335747756455847
Activity type: Sheltered beach, rock pools
Season: Year-round
Rough cost: Free
Parking: Large car park
Toilets: Seasonal
North Coast Leg
1. Durness
Smoo Cave
Ages suitable: All ages
Location: 58.56332923202959, -4.719779977331
Activity type: Cave exploration
Season: Year-round / Boat trips inside cave: spring–autumn (weather dependent)
Rough Cost: Walk-in viewpoint: Free / Boat trip: £10–£15
Parking: car park
Toilets: At car park
Golden Eagle Zipline
Ages suitable: All ages (height/weight limits apply)
Activity type: Zipline
Season: Late spring–summer (weather dependent)
Rough cost: £17 per person
Parking: Next to launch site
Toilets: No toilets on site
Golden Eagle Zipline
Golden Eagle Zipline (Durness) is the sort of wild, heart-pounding Highland experience that sticks in your memory. It’s one of the UK’s most northerly ziplines, perched above stunning Ceannabeinne Beach on the North Coast 500.
2. Tongue & Kyle of Tongue
Skinnet Beach
Ages suitable: All ages
Location: 58.52164962602558, -4.425398160134856
Activity type: Wildlife spotting, short walks, shoreline exploring
Season: Year-round
Rough cost: Free
Parking: Laybys
Toilets: None
Castle Varrich
Ages suitable: All ages
Location: 58.476130763838114, -4.4176610950512645
Activity type: Short hill walk to ruins
Season: Year-round
Rough cost: Free
Parking: Small car park
Toilets: None on-site.
3. Bettyhill & Strathnaver
Farr Beach
Ages suitable: All ages
Location: 58.53216348567619, -4.211990790820897
Activity type: Beach play, sand dunes, paddling
Season: Year-round (best in summer)
Rough cost: Free
Parking: Car park
Toilets: Nearby Car park
Strathnaver Museum
Ages suitable: All ages
Activity type: Indoor museum (wet-weather friendly)
Season: Seasonal (April - October)
Rough cost: £5 adults, under-18s free
Parking: Car Park
Toilets: Available on-site
Strathnaver Museum
Strathnaver Museum is a proper hidden gem up on Scotland’s rugged north coast that takes you deep into the story of the people who lived in Strathnaver for thousands of years. Housed in the old Parish Church of Columba, this community-run museum digs into 8,000+ years of local life.
4. Thurso
North Coast Watersports
Ages suitable: All ages
Activity type: Surfing and Paddleboarding
Season: All Year
Rough cost: £35–£45 per lesson
Parking: Near beach
Toilets: Nearby
North Coast Watersports
North Coast Watersports is all about getting you into the waves along Scotland’s dramatic north shore if you’re up for something active on your NC500 adventure. It’s a highly rated surf school and watersports outfit based around Dunnet Beach near Thurso, offering surf lessons, stand-up paddleboarding, kit hire and even guided coastal tours
Thurso Leisure Centre
Ages suitable: All ages
Activity type: Swimming pool & indoor leisure
Season: Year-round (session-based timetable)
Rough cost: £5–£8 per session
Parking: Leisure Car Park
Toilets: Indoor facilities
Thurso Leisure Centre
Thurso Leisure Centre in Caithness is the go-to spot in town when you want to keep active, have a splash, or just chill out after a day exploring northern Scotland. It’s a proper community hub with a 25m swimming pool and a separate shallow pool just right for kids and splashy play.
East Coast Leg
1. Wick
Wick Harbour
Ages suitable: All ages
Location: 58.44021741196223, -3.0859570313046194
Activity type: Harbour exploring, wildlife spotting
Season: Year-round
Rough cost: Free
Parking: On-street
Toilets: Public Toilets in Town Centre
Wick Leisure Centre
Ages suitable: All ages
Activity type: Swimming pool & indoor leisure
Season: Year-round (session-based timetable)
Rough cost: £5–£8 per session
Parking: Car Park
Toilets: Indoors
Wick Leisure Centre
Wick Swimming Pool (often called Wick Leisure Centre) is the main place in Wick, Caithness to get active, have a splash and keep the whole crew entertained. The pool itself is a proper 25m main pool with lanes for lap swimmers and a moveable/depth-adjustable floor at one end, which makes it brilliant for lessons and family play sessions alike
2. Lybster
Castle Sinclair Girnigoe
Ages suitable: All ages
Location: 58.47806927659355, -3.0681139178095447
Activity type: Historic, Castle Ruins
Season: Year-round
Rough cost: Free
Parking: Car Park
Toilets: No facilities
Lybster Harbour
Ages suitable: All ages
Location: 58.295891409200465, -3.290672903067591
Activity type: Sealife Spotting, harbour exploring
Season: Year-round
Rough cost: Free
Parking: Car Park
Toilets: No facilities
Shelligoe Path
Ages suitable: All ages
Location: 58.30012282790237, -3.281337744806735
Activity type: Coastal walk, picnic and wild swimming.
Season: Year-round
Rough cost: Free
Parking: Car Park
Toilets: No facilities
3.Brora
Brora Beach
Ages suitable: All Ages
Location: 58.01161924183632, -3.8444404006854946
Activity type: Beach play, paddling, wildlife spotting
Season: Year-round (best May–September)
Rough cost: Free
Parking: Car park
Toilets: Public toilets in car park
4.Golspie
Big Burn Walk
Ages suitable: All Ages
Location: 57.979120038839724, -3.9628920448286995
Activity type: Woodland walks
Season: Year-round
Rough cost: Free
Parking: Car park
Toilets: No toilets
Dunrobin Castle
Ages suitable: All ages
Activity type: Castle, gardens, museum
Season: April – October
Rough cost: £16 adults / £10 children
Parking: Car park
Toilets : Within castle
Dunrobin Castle
One of Scotland's most iconic castles. The grounds alone are worth the trip, especially when in full bloom. But the castle tour itself, which is a self-guided tour is a bonus. You'll follow the arrows from room to room and discovery history about the Earls and Dukes of Sutherland.
5.Dornoch & Embo
Dornoch Beach
Ages suitable: All ages
Location: 57.87917071988524, -4.015427191108903
Activity type: Beach play, paddling, dune exploring
Season: Year-round (best summer)
Rough cost: Free
Parking: Car park
Toilets: Public on-site
Historylinks Museum
Ages suitable: All ages
Activity type: Indoor museum (email for out-of-season opening)
Season: April–October
Rough cost: £5 adults, children discounted
Parking: On-street
Toilets: In museum
History Links Museum
Historylinks Museum is a cosy, welcoming place where the story of Dornoch and the surrounding region gets brought to life in engaging, clever ways. It’s a treasure trove of local tales, artefacts, photos and displays that span centuries, from Picts and Vikings to the infamous Janet Horne witch trial and the rise of railways in the area.
6.Black Isle
Chanonry Point
Ages suitable: All ages
Location: 57.57374247381219, -4.094924176858141
Activity type: Dolphin and wildlife spotting
Season: Year-round (best spring–autumn, rising tide)
Rough cost: Free
Parking: On-site
Toilets: none
Liquid Footprints
Ages suitable: Check individual activities.
Activity type: Skiing, Canoeing, Kayaking, Gorge Scrambling
Season: Year-round
Rough Cost: Varies with each activity
Parking: On-site
Toilets: At centre
Liquid footprints
Liquid Footprints is all about getting you properly outdoors in the Highlands, not just looking at the scenery but moving through it. Run by experienced local guides, they specialise in small-group adventures like kayaking, canoeing, gorge walking and guided river journeys across the north of Scotland. Every trip is hands-on, down-to-earth and shaped around the landscape, the weather and the people taking part.
