Highland half-term holiday fun for kids

Family days out can be expensive but it is possible to stick to a budget during the February holidays.

There are a number of cheap and free activities to while away the next four days while the schools are off.

Here are just a few suggestions of things to do:

Inverness Museum and Art Gallery, Castle Wynd, Inverness: Katie Morag - Imagining an Island. Saturday is the last day of this exhibition dedicated to Katie Morag, one of Scottish children's literature's favourite characters, created by Mairi Hedderwick. See a range of original illustrations and the storyboards that go towards creating the iconic books. Open from 11am-4pm, admission free.

Highland Folk Museum, Newtonmore: The museum and open-air visitor attraction hosts a February Family Fun Day on Tuesday, with two sessions, from 10am-noon and 2-4pm.

Children can enjoy storytelling with author Emily Dodds and follow a winter trail to find seasonal items in the museum collection. Plus there will be hot chocolate, cookies and crafts to enjoy.

Pre-booking essential – call 01349 781650. Children £4, no charge for accompanying adults. Children must be accompanied.

Landmark Forest Adventure Park, Carrbridge: Dino Days on Saturday and Sunday at 11am both days give children the chance to meet 22 roaring prehistoric giants, uncover a T-Rex fossil and take part in a Triceratops hunt. They can visit the Dinosaur Hatchery or take part in the Robosaur and Dino Foil Balloon challenge to win prizes. Winter attractions including NetworX, Ancient Forest Twilights and glitter face painting are also available daily and included in the 'Dino Day' ticket price. Those who come dressed as their favourite dinosaur also have the chance to win the amazing prize of a Landmark annual pass for four.

Of course not everybody likes to take part in organised activities but thankfully, being in the Highlands it's not much a problem to get away from it all

Bearing in mind there is a weather warning for snow and ice for Saturday – and Sunday, Monday and Tuesday all look like they could be wet (typical holiday weather!) – you might still want to think about a walk.

Shorter hops are available in town at the likes of the Merkinch Natures Reserve, the Ness Islands or as far along the Caledonian Canal as you feel like going a longer, or take a longer stride out on any many nearby woodland walks - at Ord Hill by North Kessock, Culloden Wood or Rosehaugh Estate, for example.

And if you fancy the idea of combining a drive with some fresh air and a bit of history throw in you could do worse than follow the Pictish Trail.

Carved stones, important religious sites, hillforts and rare items cared for in local museums can all be visited an enjoyed.

For more details – including how to download an app making exploring the trail as easy as possible – see here

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