Nairn

Two hours from Edinburgh, this seaside resort town still draws families back year after year for proper bucket-and-spade holidays. The wide sandy beach stretches for miles, backed by championship golf courses that have hosted major tournaments. When the tide's out, children can explore rock pools while parents eye up the 19th hole.

Nairn Museum tells the story of local fisherfolk and farmers, though most visitors are more interested in the present than the past. The Secret Beach lives up to its name - a quieter stretch of sand where you can actually hear the waves above the chatter.

Cawdor Castle and Gardens makes for a cracking day out when the weather turns. The 14th-century fortress, complete with drawbridge and fairy-tale turrets, sits just inland among ancient woodlands. Shakespeare fans will recognise the name from Macbeth, though the real history is far more interesting than the fiction.

Archery enthusiasts should seek out Bowhunter Archery Woodland Adventures for something different. Meanwhile, hill walkers can tackle The Ord or Hill of Urchany for sweeping views across the Moray Firth to the distant mountains.

Delnies Community Woodland provides gentle walking trails and picnic spots when you need a break from the beach. The town sits perfectly positioned between Inverness (15 miles east) and the whisky country of Speyside.

Staying at one of the nearby holiday parks makes perfect sense - you get the best of both worlds. Beach days and castle visits without the hassle of daily drives from Inverness. Plus, the kids can run wild after a day of sightseeing while you plan tomorrow's adventures over a dram.