Carrbridge Carriage Driving

The carriage driving school at Carrbridge sits in proper Highland countryside, about four miles south of Grantown-on-Spey. This isn't a museum you walk around - it's a working place where you can actually learn to drive a horse-drawn carriage, which is brilliant if you fancy something different from the usual park activities.

What happens is you get hands-on tuition from experienced drivers. They'll teach you how to handle the reins, navigate the terrain, and manage the horse properly. It's surprisingly physical work - your arms will know about it by the end of a session - and demands real concentration. The Highland setting means you're driving through decent scenery rather than pottering about in a field.

Families with kids aged eight and up tend to get the most from this. Younger children might find the length of a lesson tedious, but teenagers often become genuinely absorbed. It's less about thrills and more about learning a proper skill. If you're staying at Grantown on Spey Caravan Park, it's an easy drive over and makes a solid half-day outing.

Ring ahead to book - spots fill up, especially in summer. Costs aren't cheap but you're paying for proper instruction and horse care. Wear long trousers and closed shoes; the instructors will be firm about this. Go midweek if you can; weekends get rammed with tourists trying the same thing.