10 great Easter egg trail days out in Scotland

Here’s our guide to the best places to roll your Easter eggs.

1. Culzean Castle & County Park, Maybole, Ayrshire, KA19 8LE 01655 884455

Few places are more deserving of discovery than Ayrshire’s magnificent Culzean Castle.

Created by Scottish architect Robert Adam, it’s often described as his masterpiece.

Packed to the turrets with antique furniture and furnishings, artworks, porcelain and other fascinating period objects, it is a superb example of high-class living, 18th-century style.

But one of its greatest claims to fame is very much of the 20th century.

The Kennedy family who once owned Culzean have a long military lineage and they gifted an apartment to General Eisenhower in 1945.

The man known as “Ike” was Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe during the Second World War and the apartment was a thank you for all he did.

Eisenhower, who went on to become the 34th President of America, visited the castle several times.

There are guided tours of the castle at 11.00 and 14.30 daily and family tours on Saturdays and Sundays at 11.30 and 14.00.

But the indoor spectacle is only part of the appeal as you’re spoilt for choice outside.

If you want to get close to the sea, there are three miles of shoreline to explore. Horticulture fans will love the Fountain Court with its orangery and terraces and the Walled Garden’s colourful borders, stone grotto and fruit-filled glasshouses.

There are around 40 other quirky historical buildings and follies hidden throughout the estate and you can explore by yourself, or take one of the Ranger-led guided walks.

Easter Egg Trail runs Fri 3 Mon 6 Apr, 10.30am-3.30pm. Usual entry prices plus £1.50 per trail.

2. Brodie Castle, Forres, Moray, IV36 2TE 0844 493 2156

16th century Brodie Castle boasts one of the best daffodil displays in the country and they should just be bursting into bloom as Easter rolls around.

As well as the Easter egg trail, younger visitors can enjoy the brilliant playpark while adults check out the amazing library with its 6000 volumes.

Easter Egg Trail runs Sat 4 Mon 6 Apr, 11am-4pm. £2 per trail.

3. Crathes Castle, Garden & Estate, Banchory, Aberdeenshire, AB31 5QJ 0844 493 2166

One of Aberdeenshire’s finest castles, Crathes has more than enough to keep the whole clan busy.

You can explore the historic interiors and spooky stories in the castle, tracking down the famous topiary and tramping through the wonderful woodlands. Those with a head for heights can try out the Go Ape tree-top adventure.

Easter Egg Trail runs Sat 4 Mon 6 Apr, 10.30am-4pm. £3 per trail.

4. David Livingstone Centre, 165 Station Road, Blantyre, G72 9BY 0844 493 2207

A super place to get to know more about one of Scotland’s greatest adventurers, famously greeted by Stanley with the words: “Dr Livingstone, I presume.”

See where Livingstone was born and spent his early years. A new app has been introduced for 2015 to help families find out more.

Easter Egg Trail runs Fri 3 Mon 6 Apr, 11am-4pm. £2 per trail.

5. Glencoe Visitor Centre, Glencoe, Argyllshire, PA49 4HX 0844 493 2222

Marvel at the mountain majesty of Glencoe this Easter. The visitor centre is hosting Easter activities and there are some great low-level walks which give families a chance to explore the great outdoors together.

As spring starts to make an appearance look out for deer, eagles and the ever-elusive pine marten.

Easter Egg Trail runs Fri 3 Mon 6 Apr, 10am-4pm. £1.50 per trail.

6. Kellie Castle & Garden, Pittenweem, Fife, KY10 2RF 0844 439 2184

Sample some of Fife’s finest organic produce on a visit to Fife’s Kellie Castle, which dates way back to the 14th century.

The gardens a great setting for a picnic on a nice day have a wide range of produce and the caf serves up a tasty treat or two.

Easter Egg Trail runs Fri 3 Mon 6 Apr, 12-4pm. £2.50 per trail.

7. Newhailes, Newhailes Road, Musselburgh, East Lothian, EH21 6RY 0844 493 2125

Some 300 years of history are here to discover at the carefully conserved villa with its heralded rococo interiors.

See the landscape at Newhailes start to come to life once again. Wild spring flowers will be in bloom around the grounds and the team are starting to recreate an historic flower garden too.

Easter Egg Trail runs Fri 3 Mon 6 Apr, 11am-4pm. £2 per trail.

8. Pollok House, Pollok Country Park, 2060 Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow, G43 1AT 0844 493 2202

Get a real-life taste of Downton Abbey upstairs and down at this magnificent country mansion.

There are grand rooms above and under the stairs you can see the other side of life. The old kitchen has been turned into a fabulous place for a coffee or meal.

Easter Egg Trail runs Fri 3 Mon 6 Apr, 10am-4pm. £2 per trail.

9. Threave Estate, Castle Douglas, Dumfries and Galloway, DG7 1RX 0844 493 2245

See spring bulbs in great abundance at beautiful Threave Garden, with daffodils and many other early blooming plants.

And it’s also the perfect place to go batty as Threave is Scotland’s only bat reserve. You can hear, too, whether the magnificent ospreys are on their way back.

Easter Egg Trail runs Fri 3 Mon 6 Nov, 10am-5pm. £1 per trail.

10. House of Dun, Montrose, Angus, DD10 9LQ 01674 820264

Built in the 18th century, this grand Georgian house is just three miles from Montrose.

It sits in its own formal Victorian gardens with parkland and woodland beyond and the house itself boasts some of the Trust’s finest paintings and furniture.

You can venture out into the Montrose Basin Local Nature Reserve.

Easter Egg Trail runs Fri 3 Mon 6 Apr, 12-4pm. £2 per trail.

For the eighth year running, Cadbury are supporting the National Trust for Scotland to bring fantastic family fun in the form of 2015’s Easter Egg trails. They’ve become a firm annual fixture in many family calendars with trails at 50 Trust places across Scotland. They’re a great, tasty introduction to Trust gems.