Golspie offers plenty of family friendly activities without the need for long drives, allowing you to make the most of your holiday experience.
You can search for experiences and places to go via the map or the information below
Play parks
Have some fun at Golspie’s two play parks both of which have recently been upgraded and refurbished with funding secured by Go Golspie Development Trust
Golspie has two large play park spaces, Ross Street play park on the north west side of the village and the King George V play park which is located on the south side of the main road (A9) as you approach the village from the south (see the map above).
Ross Street has a fantastic array of equipment on which your little ones can swing, spin and slide! There are also three wheelchair accessible items and a giant hamster wheel which will have everyone entertained.
King George V has a great climbing frame with multiple slides, swings to suit different abilities and benches for picnics.
Splash & quack
Have a paddle in the river and meet the ducks
Young children will love the resident population of ducks in Golspie Burn. There are great observation and paddling spots at the mouth of the Burn and the ford/footbridge just up from it.
You can reach either spot by walking down Duke Street (totally pram friendly) or by following the sea front path, to the left if facing the sea, from the village centre (only 1/2 mile or so from the large car park off Main Street).
Splash & sand
Enjoy some time at the beach
Access to the beach in Golspie couldn’t be easier with parking available within metres of the shore.
Near the pier is also a good spot for entering the water for a spot of wild swimming or paddleboarding. There is also a handy sheltered hut at the pier.
For a larger sandy area (depending on tides) you should head down to either between the caravan site and the Kart track or to Littleferry. There the kids can play in the sand, mess around on the dunes, jump over the waves and spot the seals bobbing about in the estuary.
Swimming near or in the estuary at Littleferry is not recommended due to strong currents.
Swimming pool
When its wet outside why not get wet inside
Right in the centre of Golspie is the Sutherland Swimming pool.
The 25m long indoor pool has scheduled family sessions:
- AquaRun: Scramble, Run, Crawl or Walk your way over our 20 metre inflatable avoiding the Leisure Assistants cold hose. You must be a competent swimmer aged between 8 and 14 years old.
- Fun sessions: Great fun for all the family with big floats, woggles and lots of other toys.
- See the Sutherland Swimming Pool Facebook page for timetables and prices.
Ball games and playing fields
When it comes to places to run about or kick/throw/hit balls, Golspie has lots of options.
Up at the top of the village there is an astroturf and an all weather pitch with basketball nets (or just lines for line tag!). Booking is through High Life Highland here.
Next to that there is a grassy area with football goals.
The just behind Main Street there are two tennis courts.
Then there is also Golspie Sutherland Football Club.
Crabbing
Catching or finding crabs is a great way to spend an hour or so
Head to Golspie pier and attach some bait (fish, mussels) to your crab fishing device (or tied to the end of a piece of string). Let the bait rest on the bottom and then wait. The crabs will come scuttling to the bait. Once they grab it with their pincers reel them in.
When the tide is out make sure you look under any large rocks for any crabs hiding away.
Activities and events
Regular and annual activities for youth of all ages
Regular activities
- Scheduled family sessions, fun sessions and AquaRun sessions at Sutherland swimming pool (see above for more details).
- The Golspie Youth Action Project (see below) run activities such as Highland dancing or football. See the Facebook page, pop into the GYAP charity shop on Main Street, or email gyap2023@outlook.com for information on what is on now.
- The North of Scotland Kart Club host karting sessions for 6-11 year olds and there are hire kart experiences. See the club website for more information.
- The Golspie Youth Action Project run a twice weekly youth club at the YMCA building (Tuesday and Friday, 6-10pm, ages- primary 1 to 21 years old).
Annual activities
- Fèis Chataibh promotes interest, education and participation in Gaelic arts and language and organises a week-long festival for 5-18 year olds in July, with workshops, lessons and musical performances. Bookings for the week generally open in June and are announced via the Fèis Chataibh Facebook page
- The Golspie Youth Action Project organise a junior fun run in conjunction with the Ben Bhraggie 24 race (May).
- Go Golspie Development Trust organise the Golspie Community Cinema in the YMCA building. There is a free family film during Golspie Gala Week and one before Christmas with other films also shown regularly throughout the year. See their Facebook page for what is on.
- Golspie Gala Week – organises events for all ages including young people and including a Banger Derby on the first Sunday of the week (usually end July/early August).
- The Golspie Youth Action Project organise a free family fun day on the first Saturday of Golspie Gala week which includes games, activities and lunch.
Other activities
- Junior Bowls – through the Golspie Bowling Club
- Junior Golf – organised by Golspie Golf Club
- Junior Tennis – run by the Tennis Club
- Highland Wildcat Mountain bike trails
- Sam’s bike shed for bike hire
- Sutherland Adventure Company for paddleboarding
- Golspie Library
There are more activities and services listed on our webpages:
Golspie Youth Action Project (GYAP) is an independent charity which runs activities and events throughout the year. Visiting youth are welcome to join in activities and the majority of their services are completely free- but you can support the charity by signing up for annual membership for just £10 per year per child, making a donation or buying something in their charity shop.
As well as the activities listed here, GYAP also run services to generally support local youths including helping them to fundraise for annual trips, collaborating with local primary and high schools, and providing free meals in the summer holidays.
Adventure walks
Walks that will keep everyone entertained
Big Burn’s bridges and walkways
The Big Burn footpaths are full of entertaining features, twists and turns and places to stop and throw stones. There is so much going on that little legs won’t even realise they are walking as they are having so much fun.
Along the coast to Brora
Golspie to Brora is about 6 miles along the coast, but there is the bonus of just going in one direction and getting the train or bus back (or the bus from part way at Dunrobin or Doll).
Along the route there is plenty to explore as you pass by Dunrobin Castle, Carn Liath (an iron age broch you can walk around), Sputie Burn waterfall as well as cliffs and beaches.
To the hide in Balblair wood
Parking at Balblair woods car park it is just a short walk (1km) to the wildlife hide looking out across the Loch Fleet. It is a great destination point to aim children in the direction of.
If you want to walk on a little more there are further tracks in to the wood and around the shore of the loch. The wooded tracks are suitable for balance bikes and offroad prams.