ideas for October break October Half Term
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or those of you not escaping to sunnier climates, we have some indoor ideas to keep your kids happy and busy, when the weather may be less kind to us and the days are getting shorter! However there are plenty of great outdoor options as well for when we have those lovely crisp blue sky autumnal days. Enjoy!
Wet Weather activities Soft Play - There are loads of soft play centres in the central belt from Monster Mania www.monstersoftplay. co.uk and Cadwinkles www. cadwinkles.co.uk in Falkirk, Kidz World www. kidz-world.co.uk in Alloa and Bearheart Castle www.bearheartcastle.co.uk and Springkerse View www.springkerseview.co.uk in Stirling. A great run around for your active kids on a wet/ windy day. All of these places have good cafes/ restaurant. There is also a small soft play at the Motor Museum in Bo’ness. phone 01506 827007
Free or Cheap! Libraries - Don’t forget your local library. Borrowing books is free and there are often events on during the holidays. Why not pop into your local library today and find out or log on to www.stirling.gov.uk www.falkirk.gov.uk and www.clacksweb.gov.uk Callendar House in Falkirk and the Smith Gallery in Stirling are both FREE and great places to explore. Visit www.smithartgallery. demon.co.uk and www.falkirkcouncik.gov.uk or phone 01324 503770
Cinema - See listings for the Macrobert and the Bo’ness Hippodrome on www.macrobert. org.uk and www.falkirk.gov.uk. There is also the Vue in Stirling and Cineworld in Falkirk. Ten Pin Bowling - at the AMF Bowling in Forth Street Riverside in Stirling. check out times on www.amf.co.uk or Ten Pin Bowling in Falkirk at www.tenpinscotland.co.uk/Falkirk Ceramics - Paint your own pot at Play Pots Ceramics in Drip Road in Stirling Phone 01786 471755 for opening times.
History on our Doorstep Historic Scotland - whilst not totally indoors we have some fantastic castles right on our doorstep, from Stirling Castle, Doune Castle, Blackness Castle and Linlithgow Palace. All great fun for one of those crisp sunny (if cold) days out. Check out www.historicscotland.org.uk Check out the National Wallace Monument at www.nationalwallacemonument.com and Bannockburn www.nts.org.uk Historic Hunting - There are special events going on at Stirling Castle during the October holidays from the 10th to 14th October. Come and enjoy the exclusive company of quite the most stylish courtiers for a day out hunting and jousting! Give your kids the chances to dress up in the latest renaissance fashions, and demonstrate their cunning with the crossbow, and flair with the lance. Events are performed 11am to 4pm. The event is included in the admission price to Stirling Castle. Wallace Monument - celebrating 150 years. – During the school holidays from 17th to 28th October there will be special daily activities for everyone to enjoy, including games and quizzes for children and costumed actors to make the history come to life.
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Cycling - FREE and healthy! There are loads of child friendly cycle paths in the central belt. Visit our website www. familiescentralscotland. co.uk and read our article on family friendly cycle routes in and around Stirling, Falkirk and Clacks. Check out www. cyclestirling.org.uk for FREE cycling events across the year. Country Parks - FREE and loads of tracks to walk, cycle and explore. Beecraigs 01506 844516, Muiravonside 01506 845311 Plean and Mugdock. 0141956 6100 Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre - With 10 acres of wildlife gardens and habitats this is a relaxing retreat for both the young and old. There are many events on for children, check with the rangers for details. Entry to the park is FREE although small charge for Jupiter Wildlife Watch Club. www.falkirkonline.net 01324 486475 Geocaching - is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices. Participants navigate to a specific set of GPS co-ordinates and then attempt to find the geocache (container) hidden at that location. There are over 500 geochaches hidden in the central area for you and your family to find. FREE family fun. www.geocaching.com
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Get Active Swimming - Good fun in any weather and there are loads of pools across the central belt form The Peak in Stirling, the Mariner Centre in Camleon , Maclaren leisure centre in Callendar, The Leisure bowl in Alloa, Grangemouth Pool and the Recreation Centre at Bo’ness. There will be FREE swimming for kids at the Alloa Leisure Bowl during the October half term from 1-4pm daily. Check the following websites for times and costs. www.stirling.gov.uk www.falkirk.gov.uk and www.clacksweb.gov.uk Sports classes - There are many sports clubs and classes for your kids to remain active and learn valuable skills. Check out Enjoy a Ball, (07793 545180) Stirling or (07912 946013) Falkirk) Little Kicks, (01786 842973)Total Tennis, (013245 635633) Fit Kids (08445 605451) Cycle Training (07966 201519) Swim Easy (0131 466 0764) Jumpin Beans www. activestirling.org.uk/Jumpin-Beans and Waterbabies www.waterbabies.co.uk or phone 01786 430314 Active Stirling - will be running Peak Play (5-7 years olds) Peak Fun (8-10year olds) and Peak Fit (for 11-13 years olds) during the October break, This gives youngsters a chance to try out a variety of sports and active games. Visit www. activestirling.org.uk or phone the Peak on 01786 273555 for booking details. Active Schools - check out active schools in your local area for details or programmes and events. Visit www.activeschoolsfalkirk.co.uk or www.clacksweb.org.uk/learning/activeschools and www.fvds.org.uk for sports specifically for children and young people with disabilities. Check out our website on www. familiescentralscotland.co.uk for more articles and don’t forget our Out and About guide on page 14-15. Have a fab half term.