Ten family activities for the Easter holidays

MOST children would love Easter eggs to grow on trees, but there’s much more to do during the holidays than simply gorge on chocolate

Easter Eggstravaganza 
National Trust

The Hermitage, Saturday

Follow in the footsteps of famous visitors Wordsworth, Mendelssohn and Turner in a family afternoon of egg hunting in the beautiful Hermitage woodlands, widely considered some of the most picturesque in Scotland. Particularly lucky walkers may be able to spot one of the endangered red squirrels nesting in the stunning Douglas firs, among the tallest trees in Britain. Visitors can admire the birdsong and blossoming spring flowers while searching for clues and questions, followed by the chance to show off their creative side in a spot of Easter crafts and badge making. The perfect way to work off the weekend’s chocolate treats.

Tel: [phone]

www.nts.org.uk

Easter Weekend

Scone Palace, Friday To Sunday

The grounds of the former crowning site of the King of Scots, including Macbeth and Robert the Bruce, is to play host to a range of outdoor activities and entertainment over Easter weekend. A hog-roast stall will be on hand for hungry visitors, and a guest appearance by Pirate Pete on Sunday will bring a touch of high seas hilarity to the peaceful Perth countryside. Those with a keen eye for a bargain should make a beeline for the Galloway Antiques fair, which features furniture, porcelain, jewellery, sculpture and oriental carpets dating from the early Georgian period through to the 1930s. Any gift purchased here is guaranteed to last longer than an Easter egg.

Tel: [phone]

www.scone-palace.co.uk

Easter Eggcitement

Almond Valley Heritage Centre, Friday To 1 April

Herald the arrival of spring by greeting the newborn lambs and chicks and other Easter arrivals on the farm at the Almond Valley Heritage Centre. Children are invited to crack the fiendish clues in a springtime trail and make traditional Easter bonnets and rabbit masks, 
and parents can put their feet up and enjoy a scone in the tearoom. Another highlight is the annual plastic duck race, a competition to be the first from the duck pond. 
The fearless rubber ducks will ride the rapids beside the buttery and race to the finishing line in the lower pond. The trainer of the fastest duck will win a special prize, awarded by the centre’s mascot Morag the Highland Cow.

Tel: [phone]

www.almondvalley.co.uk

Easter Foolery

Edinburgh Castle, Sunday

Edinburgh Castle comes over all French during Easter weekend. The Queen of Scots has decided she is missing her childhood home in France and orders her court to celebrate Easter as the French do, complete with foolish behaviour, mirth and merriment. Special children’s tours and performances are all part of the fun, and visitors are challenged to test their knowledge of the castle in a fiendish Easter Quiz. Afterwards, discover the delicious foods which have been prepared to celebrate the end of Lent across the centuries.

Tel: [phone]

www.edinburghcastle.gov.uk

Forager’s Breakfast 
Royal Botanic Garden, Saturday & Sunday

For a less conventional weekend, foraging expert and author Miles Irving will lead budding explorers on a morning walk around the Botanic Garden, identifying edible wild plants and offering helpful tips on cooking foraged foods, followed by a breakfast of wild delights at Earthy, Canonmills.

Tel: [phone]

www.rbge.org.uk

Supernatural Scotland Themed Tour

National Museum Of Scotland, Sunday

Would you like to know why a bronze age archer would have been buried alongside a piece of amber with a hole in it? Or why a group of witches were put on trial for the attempted murder of James VI? Find out the answers to these questions and many more by touring the weird and 
wonderful contents of the National Museum, and learn about the fascinating superstitions, religious practices and artefacts unique to Scotland.

Tel: [phone]

www.nms.ac.uk

One Act Play Competition

Webster Memorial Theatre, Today To Saturday

Head to Arbroath to witness the best of young Scottish theatrical talent performing a series of short plays consisting of only one act to a captive audience. Organised by the Scottish Community Drama Association and featuring drama clubs from Angus, Aberdeen, Perthshire and Orkney, the evening will be judged by Russell Boyce, former student of Glasgow College of Dramatic Art. Competing against each other, the chosen winners will go through to the Scottish Finals in April. An invaluable opportunity to spot the next Ewan McGregor or Alan Cumming.

Tel: [phone]

www.scda.org.uk

Falls Of Clyde Easter 
Bunny Quest

Falls Of Clyde Visitor Centre And Reserve, Sunday

How much can you see with your eyes closed? Put your senses to the test by taking on the blindfolded bunny challenge to discover what’s inside the Easter Bunny’s burrow. Take a bracing walk in the 59 hectares of natural woodland and four Clyde waterfalls, keeping an eye out for otters gambolling in the shallows. Keen birdwatchers might be treated to the best views of nesting Peregrine falcons in Britain, with experts on hand at the viewing station to impart their specialist knowledge.

Tel: [phone]

www.scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk

About Austen’s Women

Birnam Arts & Conference Centre, Friday

Thirteen of Jane Austen’s most celebrated female characters are brought to life in this bold revisiting of the most exciting moments from the author’s bestselling novels. In scenes of high comedy and moments of profound pathos, Lizzy Bennet, Emma Woodhouse, Marianne Dashwood and many more fall in love, alienate their friends and commit notorious improprieties. Using only Austen’s words, Rebecca Vaughan offers an illuminating distillation of 19th century feminism. A must for Austen afficionados or anyone who just wants to be entertained in true, old-fashioned style.

Tel: [phone]

www.birnamarts.com

Edinburgh City 
Sci-Quest

City-Wide, Friday To Sunday

Download the free Sci-Quest app on your smartphone, grab some willing family and friends and get ready to roam around Edinburgh’s green spaces following one of the four science-themed trails, answering questions at each point on the map. Delve into Edinburgh’s intriguing past and discover hidden scientific treasures in this competitive quest for knowledge. You’ll need a keen eye and quick wits to gather clues and solve riddles to progress through the game. Your progress can be tracked via the website, where you can check your ranking against rival teams via the leaderboard.

Email: [email protected]

www.quest.sciencefestival.co.uk