Camera Obscura
This is one of my favourite attractions in Edinburgh and it’s brilliant for the kids (and adults too).  Situated in what was once an old tenement block it started life as an outlook tower in the 1890’s.  Each floor has a different theme including magic, optical illusions and 3D holograms.  The Camera Obscura is in the Victorian rooftop chamber and the show is very likely to have the kids in stitches!  Furthermore you get stunning 360-degree views from the roof top so the kids can play interactive games to their heart's content while learning at the same time and also getting pretty photos for Instagram.  Perfect.
Prices £15.50 Adults, £11.50 Children, under 5 Free
Castlehill,
The Royal Mile,
Edinburgh,
EH1 2DN

Edinburgh is the best city in the world to spend New Years Eve, or as the Scots say “Hogmanay”, and with the airport a swift 35 minutes away from Princes Street on their brand new trams, and the train station and bus station right in the heart of the city, it has never been easier.
Edinburgh comes alive during the Christmas season, a magical winter wonderland filled to the brim with festive cheer. But fantastic as it is, it is New Years Eve that things really get going. Here are my top 10 reasons to visit at this thrilling time of year.

1. The Big Wheel and Star Flyer
For amazing views over the city take to the skies on the spine-tinglingly high Sky Flyer. At nearly 60 metres high you can get 360 degree views but you have to be brave. I’m not, and I watch from the side. The Big Wheel is a gentler alternative, and the pods are enclosed so you can stay cosy while hearing a brief history of the city, and taking in the views. At 42 metres high it is still colossal but since six people can fit into each pod it’s a great opportunity for a bit of less-noisy time with family or friends and a chance to take some excellent photos.
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75 castles, abbeys, kirks and brochs in one weekend…
As we stood in the Grassmarket with Edinburgh Castle behind us, high on the hill and golden in the sunset, the tourist taking our photo had a puzzled look on her face as we explained that we would have our eyes shut – we were only pretending to be asleep, but it was nearly for real!
I was exhausted, but satisfied and elated because finally, after 460 miles, we had completed our mission: our latest Scotlanders campaign, partnering Historic Scotland for a weekend of castle hunting.
Read more at Scots Magazine

Inverness is an historic city near Loch Ness and is the gateway to the North Highlands. It’s also the start of Scotland’s North Coast 500, our answer to America’s Route 66 and a route which is being added to every traveller’s bucket list, not to mention bikers, hikers and caravanners.

I finally got my chance to head off on this famous route at the beginning of July.
My last attempt of the North Coast 500 got rained off but not before spending two nights in Applecross, which you can read about here (Applecross), so this time we travelled from Inverness to Gairloch on the west coast.
I knew before I set off that my journey would be a hell of a lot more than the 517 miles by the time I took all the detours, to find the beautiful beaches, castles and villages. Not that I minded, I wanted to see everything I could, and couldn’t wait! Rogue Falls was the first stop, 2 miles past Contin on the A835 to Ullapool. The beautiful set of waterfalls are just a short walk from the car park at the side of the road and you can get some cracking photos from the new suspension bridge. I love the crashing, therapeutic sound of waterfalls, especially when it has been raining and there is a lot of water. That day it was raining…..a lot.
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