For more summer events visit www.list.co.uk/events
E IS FOR ELEPHANTS Head to Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure
Park, and go wild (sorry) with elephants, lions, giraffes and bears. Get close to birds of prey and watch lemurs swing through the trees before having your own adventure in a wooden fort or pirate ship. ■ Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park, Stirling, 01786 841456, www.blairdrummond.com
WINNING TICKET Scottish Seabird Centre
F IS FOR FORTH Take in views of the Firth of Forth from the dancefloor on Forth Boat Tours’ evening dance cruises, including the Disco Boogie Cruise and the Jazz Cruise, complete with live jazz band, departing regularly from South Queensferry. If you need some liquid courage, the Forth Belle is fully licensed. ■ Forth Boat Tours, South Queensferry, 0870 118 1866, www.forthtours.com
G IS FOR GOLF Famous as the home of golf, St Andrews is a
great place to play a round – or simply try your hand at a spot of putting, especially when the hallowed Old Course is open to the public. Don’t forget to explore the beaches, where great seafood and ice cream complete the seaside experience. ■ St Andrews Visitor Information Centre, 01334 472021, www.standrews.co.uk
H IS FOR HIGH Built within a former quarry, Edinburgh’s Indoor
Climbing Arena in Ratho is something of a rock climber’s paradise. Located eight miles west of central Edinburgh, highlights include 50-foot high overhangs, a sheer 90-foot ascent and several 15- foot-high bouldering challenges. Adrenaline junkies can career 75 feet off the ground for aerial assault course, the SkyRide. ■ South Plate Hill, Ratho, 0131 333 6333, www.eica-ratho.com
I IS FOR ISLAND Marvel at the long history of Cramond – its
Roman past evidenced by the fort and bathhouse, dating from 142AD. Later, pop into The Cramond Inn, a local pub owned by Samuel Smith, and enjoy exclusive own-label brews. ■ Cramond Association, www.cramondassociation.org.uk
J IS FOR (CLIFF) JUMPING Traditionally, jumping off cliffs has been the sole
preserve of lemmings, but now, here in Scotland, you can give it a go yourself. Jumps start small, at about one metre, but if you get the hang of it and want to test yourself, it’s possible to go as high as eight metres in a morning. Adrenaline junkies Nae Limits hold lessons in areas throughout Scotland. ■ Nae Limits, 08450 178177 or 01796 482600, www.naelimits.co.uk
Forget ash clouds and airline strikes, there’s plenty of fun to be had on your doorstep for very little cost
If you’re itching to get out of Glasgow or Edinburgh, but want to leave the car at home, then there are plenty of great bus and train deals running through Scotland. Check out special bus offers from Citylink, whose £5 Super Single tickets can get you from Glasgow to Oban, Fort William or Campbeltown. For this summer only, Citylink are also offering £5 fares from Edinburgh to Fort William. Further afield, travelling to Skye from Glasgow can start from as little as £10 (see www.citylink.co.uk for full route and ticket details). Megabus, too, are a great shout for no hassle low-cost travel – check out their deals at www.megabus.com
If train is your preferred mode of transport, then Scotrail (www.scotrail.co.uk) are offering combined day-trip tickets, which include return train fares and admission to select
family attractions. Take a family excursion from Edinburgh to the Scottish Seabird Centre in North Berwick for £11.70 for an adult and £7.05 for a child. A trip to Deep Sea World in North Queensferry starts from £14 for an adult and £9.10 for a child. Off-peak, same-day return tickets to many destinations are also available. For those looking to have their planning
done for them, an organised day tour is an easy way to explore Scotland, with the pros taking the lead. Haggis Adventures (www.haggisadventures.com) run award- winning budget tours from Edinburgh, including the one-day Loch Ness Hunter Tour, passing Fort William and Ben Nevis, which gives you the option of a boat cruise on the Loch itself; for whisky and castles check out their Highlander day tour. Tours start from £28, with student and group discounts available. Rabbie’s Trailburners (www.rabbies.com) offer similar day trips leaving from Glasgow, to Oban, Glencoe and Loch Lomond.
power of strong Scottish winds with kite-pulled buggies and land boards that zoom along at speed. Lessons are available to the brave, so book ahead for an appointment. ■ Traction Kiting, 07732060459/07879626677, www.tractionkiting.co.uk
L IS FOR LOCH Celebrate the bicentenary of Sir Walter Scott’s masterpiece, The Lady of the Lake, with Scottsland, a series of cultural and literary events taking place around Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park this summer. Among these will be guided tours of the area and an evening concert of traditional Scottish music. ■ Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, 01389 722600, www.lochlomond-trossachs.org
10–24 Jun 2010 THE LIST 15
K IS FOR KITING Those looking for a little adventure could do
worse than Traction Kiting, which harnesses the