Bored children. Desperate parents. Rubbish weather. Sounds familiar?

As the summer holidays begin, The Herald is here to help. Take inspiration for what to see, where to go and how to have fun doing it with our round-the-country round up of the top 20 things to do over the summer

1 Get wild about wildlife in Orkney and Shetland…

Try spotting whales or visit one of the Northern Isles’ seabird colonies with a little help from RSPB Scotland. The organisation has teamed up with Northlink Ferries to offer ‘pop-up’ binoculars and wildlife calendars with helpful nature-watching tips to families travelling on the service from the mainland to Orkney and Shetland. Visit www.northlinkferries.co.uk or call 0845 6000 449. The packs are free and the promotion runs until September.

2 Try a ceilidh with a difference in Stonehaven…

Does anything sound more fun than an Aqua Ceilidh? Stonehaven Open Air Pool is hosting it on July 9 as part of the Stonehaven Folk Festival. The Olympic-sized heated open air public pool, in a stunning Art Deco setting, is the northernmost of its kind in UK. Splashing White Sergeant, anyone? Or what about Drip the Willow? Visit www.stonehavenopenairpool.co.uk

3 Storm a fort in Dalkeith…

Possibly the most magical adventure playpark in the country, Fort Douglas is a must-visit for all children who have dreamed of being knights/warrior princesses. There are two parks, one for the under-fives and one for six to 12-year-olds, and they are packed full of turreted treehouses, suspension bridges, slides, climbing walls and secret tunnels. Sorry grown-ups, the equipment is for children only (although there is lovely coffee at the nearby Restoration Yard. Visit www.dalkeithcountrypark.co.uk or call 0131 654 1666.

4 Seek out art in Glasgow….

Follow the City Centre Mural Trail (www.glasgow.gov.uk), which takes in a diverse range of artworks designed to rejuvenate streets and revitalise buildings and vacant sites. The first artwork was produced in 2008 to much acclaim and since then the ever-expanding portfolio has created splashes of colour to brighten up lanes and cheer up passers-by. The trail is easy to complete, and takes in a vast range of works, from the conservative to the radical, the quirky to the bizarre.

5 Meet the owls in Whitburn…

Owl fans and anyone who really, really wanted their own pet Hedwig after reading the Harry Potter books will love the Scottish Owl Centre in Polkemmet Country Park in Whitburn (01501 228184 www.scottishowlcentre.com) It's a fascinating chance to get up close to giant Siberian Eagle Owls and teeny tiny Scops Owls, and to learn about their habits and habitats and how to help in their conservation.

6 Love Lego in Glasgow…

BrickLive is perfectly built for Lego fans. There are brick pits and a graffiti wall, plenty of zones for younger visitors and MasterBuilders alike, plus Q&A sessions with the experts and demos. Everything is awesome. It runs from July 20 to 23, and tickets are available from www.bricklive.com or by calling 0844 338 7770.

7 Cook up a storm in Edinburgh..

Edinburgh New Town Cookery School (www.entcs.co.uk 0131 226 4314) is hosting cookery courses for children and young people – perfect for would-be chefs and messy teenagers who only eat pizza. The Teenagers’ Course, which is suitable for 13-17-year-olds, teaches basic skills including knife skills, weighing, using recipes and, most importantly, how to clear up as they go. There is also a one-day course which is ideal for children aged from nine to 12, and baking sessions which teach nine to 13-year-olds how to make delicious cakes, biscuits and breads which they can pack up and take home.

8 Soak up the festival atmosphere in Glasgow..

The streets and venues of what used to be called Candleriggs burst into life from July 22 until 30, for the Merchant City Festival. Highlights include street arts, comedy, carnival processions, massed samba bands, a UNESCO music stage, and a celebration of street food. Visit www.merchantcityfestival.com

9 Climb aboard in Inverness..

Ship Space is a little gem of a museum, open from Fridays to Sundays over the holidays, about a 15-minute walk or five-minute drive from Inverness city centre. This interactive and evolving maritime museum gives visitors the chance to explore a 1:10 scale model of the Titanic, complete with Parisian cafe, bridge and Marconi wireless room, and a replica Nautile submarine. You can also step on board and bait some creels on the Guiding Star, a West Coast creel fishing boat which was the last one built at Inverness’s Thornbush slipway, dress up and pretend to be a captain, explore inside a life raft and much more.

Entry is free – check www.shipspace.co.uk.

10 Find a free museum in Glasgow….

The city is home to more than 20 world-class museums and art galleries; highlights include the friendly Riverside Museum at Glasgow Harbour, home to more than 3000 objects that detail Glasgow’s rich past from its days as maritime powerhouse to contemporary, cosmopolitan hub, and Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, which houses one of Europe's great art collections – check out Frank Quitely: The Art of Comics exhibition which runs until October 1. In the east end, you can explore Glasgow’s faiths and religious history and take a stroll in Britain’s first zen garden at St Mungo’s Museum of Religious Art, and the People’s Palace reveals the city’s social history – complete with everything from Billy Connolly’s big banana boots inside the museum to the exotic banana trees in the Winter Gardens. Visit www.glasgowlife.org.uk

11 Learn and play the old-fashioned way in Kirkcaldy…

Cluny Clays (www.clunyactivities.co.uk) gives children the chance to play and explore the outdoors with a minimum of fussy supervision and boring old grown-ups kicking about. As well as the brilliant play parks, concocted from loose materials and exciting things to climb, swing and jump on, there are plenty of other activities from clay shooting and archery to footgolf and cricket.

12 Horsing about in East Kilbride..

Watch majestic Clydesdale horses and tiny Shetland ponies in a range of events at the popular annual Heavy Horse Show at the National Museum of Rural Life (www.nms.ac.uk 0300 123 6789) in East Kilbride on July 16. The museum is great for a day out too – tractor rides, fascinating exhibits, vintage machinery and lovely scones in the cafe.

13 Make your own volcano in Hamilton…

Just what bored youngsters need – advice and instruction on how to make a mess. Steel yourself for the results of Ed’s Lab Science Experiments at Chaterlherault Country Park on various dates during the break. Make everything from your very own volcano, to some delightfully disgusting goo. Booking and pre-payment is essential – call 01698 426213 or visit www.slleisureandculture.co.uk Suitable for age five and up.

14 Explore energy in Ayrshire

It might sound like an unusual place for a day out but Hunterston B power station’s visitor centre is worth a visit. The centre, which has won a clutch of tourism awards, opens its doors to children aged over seven and adults and a two-hour tour is free. You learn how the station makes enough electricity to power 1.8 million homes and interactive exhibits explain the fission process. Tours must be booked in advance.

More details at www.edfenergy.com/energy/education/visitor-centres

15 Go in search of fairies at Finlaystone..

Finlaystone Country Park (www.finlaystone.co.uk, 01475 540505) is the hub of fairy activity, and on July 18, you can join in a hunt for the elusive little creatures. Search for hidden fairy doors then return to make your own in a fun craft workshop. No extra points if you spot Tinkerbell….

16 Survival skills in Lochwinnoch..

Mini-Ray Mearses will love the Bushcraft skills sessions being run at RSPB Lochwinnoch. Learn how to build a campfire, and a shelter to protect you from the elements, then tuck into some tasty treats around the flames. Find out more at www.rspb.org.uk or call 01505 842663

17 Go Antarctic in Dundee..

Step aboard the ship that took Scott and Shackleton to the Antarctic and learn all about her amazing adventures from Dundee to the southernmost reaches of the world. The ship re-opens to the public on June 30 and until then you can still access the visitor centre. (www.rrsdiscovery.com/about-discovery)

18 Visit a castle in Dumfries..

Set on the 80,000-acre Queensberry Estate complete with its own country park and Victorian gardens, Drumlanrig is a very fine castle indeed. There are plenty of things to do and see, whether you enjoy 17th century Renaissance architecture, internationally renowned art or just want to have fun on the mountain bike tracks, adventure playgrounds and Land-Rover tours. There is also the fascinating Scottish Cycle Museum to visit as well as Ranger-led events – check the website for details. (www.drumlanrigcastle.co.uk)

19 Laugh and cry at theatre in Glasgow

E Nesbit’s classic novel The Railway Children is brought thrillingly to life at the Theatre Royal in Glasgow, in a stunning new stage production adapted by Dave Simpson. The much-loved tale, made famous by the Jenny Agutter movie in 1970, is still popular today, and its touching coming of age story and fascinating insight into Edwardian rural life will tug the heartstrings and make you smile. It runs from July 4 to 9 at Glasgow’s Theatre Royal (www.atgtickets.com/venues/theatre-royal-glasgow/)

20 Take a trip to Millport..

Cumbrae is the isle of a thousand bicycles, as families flock to spend a day on the lovely little island off the Ayrshire coast. The short (less than 10 minutes) ferry crossing makes it easily accessible from Largs, and there is loads to do once you get ashore. If cycling around the island sounds too strenuous, hit the beaches of Millport – Newton beach has won an award for its safe sands for the last seven years in the Keep Scotland Beautiful awards scheme. Lunch at the Dancing Midge is a must, and the children will love the crazy gold, Crocodile Rock and paddling in the sea. Find out more at www.millport.org