Half Term Adventures at The Forth Bridges

October half term can be a challenge. The kids are tired, the weather is wet, and Halloween excitement is building. Keep the kids entertained with a day out exploring the Forth Bridges. There’s plenty to keep them going all day and it won’t break the bank.

Kickstart that holiday feeling with a train ride across the bridge to North Queensferry. The station is home to a small heritage centre where you can wander the exhibits and learn about the bridges. Keep your eyes peeled for the Bridge Centenary mosaic and get the kids to count how many birds they can spot! If you want to pick up any drinks or snacks, head out of the northbound exit for the shop on Brock Street (it’s the only convenience store in North Queensferry).

Deep Sea World, a big attraction for kids, is just a ten-minute walk from the station and with a valid Scotrail Kids for a Quid ticket, you’ll get a free child admission for every full paying adult. Babies will be fascinated by the tropical fish and older ones can enjoy the pumpkin hunt and learn about the creepy adaptations of underwater creatures. For half term, the theme is Spooky Seas so the kids can dress up in their best Halloween costumes.

When you’re done with the fish, it’s just a flat, four-minute walk to the Pierhead Playpark, tucked away at the end of Main Street. En-route, challenge the kids to spot the world’s smallest working light tower – they’ll love its doll sized proportions! The playpark is well-maintained with a good mix of equipment for young and older kids and spectacular views for the grown-ups.

Back on Main Street, Rankins Café is a nice family friendly pitstop although it can get busy. From here, little legs can head back to the station, counting how many trains they can hear roaring overhead.

To make a longer day of it, head to the well signposted Forth Road Bridge. It’s a fifteen-minute walk with stairs at the end, but you can take the slightly longer cycle access route if you have a buggy.

The sheer height and scale are tremendous, and the sensation is like no other as the bridge sways gently in the wind.

Older kids will love walking across the bridge. The sheer height and scale are tremendous, and the sensation is like no other as it sways gently in the wind. Watch the trains crossing The Forth Bridge – they look like toys – and see if you can spot a big tanker out on the water. If you’re lucky, you might get a wave and a toot!

Soak up the views and tell the kids about the children who worked to build the original Forth Bridge. One such boy, 12-year-old John Nicol, fell from the bridge and survived, sustaining ‘no more than a wetting’. His story inspired the book Rivet Boy by the Forth Bridges Writer in Residence, Barbara Henderson – well worth a read when you get back home.

Young teens will enjoy looking at the love locks at the north and south towers and can capture some epic selfies and panoramic shots. With your permission, they can share their panoramas to #ForthBridges with a sentence describing their day and we might even publish them!

It normally takes about 45 minutes to walk the bridge, bringing you into South Queensferry. On High Street, the kids will love LouLou’s for ice cream and traditional sweets or The Little Parlour which serves over 50 types of gelato and milkshakes plus great reviving coffee for the adults.

If you still have energy to burn, head to Hawes Pier to finish off the day with an exhilarating boat trip. There are plenty to choose from – from high-speed RIB safaris to trips under the bridges – but we recommend that you book in advance. The seal pup cruise is always popular with older children but doesn’t start until pup season in November - worth bearing in mind for a repeat adventure.

From Hawes Pier, it’s a ten-minute uphill walk to Dalmeny Station for links to Edinburgh and other major lines. With a bit of luck, the kids will stay awake for the ride home, ready for an early night and dreams of a great day out.

Essential Information

Public Toilets
Battery Road Car Park, North Queensferry (30p payable by card)
North Queensferry Station
36A High Street, South Queensferry
Dalmeny Station, South Queensferry

Convenience Shops / ATMs
Wrights, Brock Street, North Queensferry
Scotmid Coop, The Loan, South Queensferry