Name: Highland Safaris
Rating: 5.0

Highland Safaris

Highland Safaris, B846, Aberfeldy PH15 2JQ, UK

1-99 Years

Paid

Description

If you are looking for the best things to do with kids in Aberfeldy, Highland Safaris is an exceptional choice. This award-winning multi-activity visitor attraction gives families an immersive way to discover the natural beauty and wildlife of Highland Perthshire. It provides a fantastic educational day out where children can come face-to-face with native animals, pan for gold, and explore rugged mountain trails.

Standard tickets for the Red Deer Experience start from £10.00 per person, while children under 3 years old enter completely free of charge. Individual activity prices vary, with Mini Land Rover safaris starting from £35 per person and Mountain Safaris priced from £47.50 per person.

If you are looking for the best place for a day out with family and kids that combines outdoor adventure with hands-on wildlife encounters, this destination ticks every box. It offers a relaxed, welcoming environment that makes exploring the Scottish highlands accessible and fun for all ages.

Features

Paid
Host birthday parties: Yes

Features

Key Features

Red Deer Centre: A dedicated wildlife hub where visitors can learn about and hand-feed Britain's largest native land mammal.
Interactive Discovery Trail: An engaging, self-guided walking route packed with local history, geology, and playful woodland features.
Gold and Gem Panning: Perthshire’s dedicated panning centre where children can search for real gold flakes and gemstones.
Off-Road Adventure Safaris: Exhilarating Land Rover tours led by kilted rangers up into the scenic mountain landscapes.

Top 5 Highlights

The Red Deer Experience: Meet the friendly resident red deer herd up close and learn fascinating wildlife facts from expert rangers. Children love the chance to hand-feed these majestic animals in a safe, open setting.
Resident Barn Owl Flight Demonstrations: Watch resident barn owls, Ossian and Tay, showcase a live flight demonstration during the red deer encounters. It is a brilliant, up-close spectacle that offers fantastic photo opportunities.
The Discovery Trail and Tractor Park: Stroll along the 500-metre interactive walking trail designed to inspire younger visitors. Kids can play on the woodland equipment, bang the woodpecker drums, and check out the bug hotel.
Gold and Gem Panning Area: Try your hand at traditional panning in the running water channels to find genuine gold flakes and sparkling gemstones. It provides an absorbing, hands-on activity that keeps children thoroughly entertained.
Mini Land Rovers: Let older kids take the wheel of scaled-down Land Rover vehicles around a specially designed track. It is an exciting, memorable driving experience tailored specifically for junior visitors.

Facilities

Toilets: Clean public restrooms and accessible facilities located right next to the main lodge.
Buggy Parking: Open-air buggy storage areas available near the main visitor reception and cafe.
Food Options: The on-site cafe serves freshly made soups, home-baked cakes, traditional scones, and children's lunch options.
Gift Shop: A well-stocked retail space offering local crafts, children's toys, outdoor clothing, and unique souvenirs.

Pro-Tips

Arrival Time: Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before any booked activity or safari slot to check in smoothly at reception.
Footwear Advice: Because many activities take place outdoors on natural terrain, sturdy walking boots or trainers are essential.
Dog Policy: Dogs are welcome in the cafe, gift shop, and grounds on leads, but are not permitted inside the Red Deer Centre or on safari tours.

Targeted FAQ

Is Highland Safaris worth it for toddlers? Highland Safaris is wonderful for toddlers because the free Discovery Trail, tractor park, and gentle red deer feeding sessions provide plenty of accessible, bite-sized entertainment. Little ones particularly enjoy meeting the resident barn owls and spotting bugs along the low-level walking routes without getting overly tired.
How long does a family visit take? Most families spend between 2 and 4 hours exploring the attraction, which allows ample time for a red deer encounter, a stroll along the Discovery Trail, and a stop at the cafe. If you are booking a longer mountain safari or multiple adventure activities, plan to stay for most of the day.
Where is the best place to park? There is spacious, complimentary on-site parking available directly outside the main visitor lodge, complete with designated disabled spaces and a smooth gradient path leading straight to the entrance.

What to see

Beyond the Main Attraction

The Birks of Aberfeldy: Explore this stunning wooded gorge immortalized by Robert Burns, featuring cascading waterfalls and scenic walking paths.
Loch Tay: Head to the nearby shores for scenic boat cruises, water sports, and tranquil lakeside views.
Aberfeldy Distillery: Discover local heritage in the heart of Perthshire with historic whisky tours nearby.
The Scottish Crannog Centre: Step back in time to explore reconstructed Iron Age loch dwellings and ancient crafts.

What Visitors Love:

The staff and kilted rangers are exceptionally friendly, knowledgeable, and brilliant at keeping children engaged.
The Red Deer Experience offers a uniquely personal and unhurried wildlife encounter compared to traditional zoos.
The combination of outdoor trails, panning, and animal talks provides fantastic variety for a half-day family trip.
The on-site cafe offers high-quality home baking and a cosy atmosphere centered around a peat-burning stove.

What Visitors Don't Like:

Individual activities are priced separately, which can add up if booking multiple experiences for a large family.
Outdoor walking tracks and gravel paths can become wet and muddy during periods of heavy Scottish rainfall.
Popular weekend activity slots can fill up quickly, requiring advance online planning.

Attractions & Live Exhibits

Red Deer Park: Home to the resident herd of red deer.
Barn Owl Enclosures: Housing resident barn owls for daily educational flights.
Discovery Trail: 500-metre outdoor interactive walk featuring local heritage exhibits.
Gold and Gem Panning Pews: Dedicated water troughs for mineral and gemstone hunting.
Mini Land Rover Track: Off-road driving course for junior visitors.

New for 2026

Upgraded Discovery Trail Play Zones: Newly installed rustic wooden balance beams and interactive sound stations along the walking route.
Enhanced Red Deer Viewing Platforms: Improved low-level barrier designs ensuring toddlers have a completely unobstructed view of the herd.
Expanded Panning Channels: Additional family-friendly gold and gem panning troughs to reduce wait times during peak weekends.
Refreshed Cafe Outdoor Seating: Expanded patio seating areas overlooking the Perthshire hills for relaxed family dining.

Website

Contact

Video

Price

Price: Paid

Price Details

Mini Safari Gift Experience: 1.5-hour safari – £35 per person.
Loch Tay Safari Gift Experience: 50-minute safari – £35 per person; 1.5-hour safari – £50 per person.
Monetary Gift Vouchers: Available from £10.
Mountain Safari Gift Experience: 2.5-hour safari – £47.50 per person.

Pricing URL: https://www.highlandsafaris.net/about-us/faqs/

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: Yes

Birthday Party Details

Enquiries: For private group celebrations, birthday bookings, or custom school trips, please contact the events team directly via email at [email protected] or call 01887 820071.
Direct Link for Birthday parties info: Visit the official Highland Safaris contact page.

Open 9am - 5pm. Closed on Mondays from middle of November until Mid March excluding Christmas and New Year holidays. Closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day.

Address: Highland Safaris, B846, Aberfeldy PH15 2JQ, UK

Post Code: PH15 2JQ

Council: Perth and Kinross

County: Scotland

By Car: Located 3 miles outside Aberfeldy in the village of Dull, situated just 400 yards off the B846 road.
Public Transport: Local public transport connections to the rural village of Dull are limited, making travel by car strongly recommended.
Car Parking: Free on-site parking is available across three compact gravel car parks featuring designated blue-badge disabled spaces close to the main lodge entrance.