‘50 things to do before you're 11¾’
Have fun exploring nature and the great outdoors with our list of ‘50 things to do before you're 11¾’.
Family days out at Scotney Castle
Let the adventures begin! Explore a moated castle, discover hidden paths and natural play areas, take a walk over the estate or get involved with a packed programme of family-friendly events and activities.
Here are some ideas for activities you can do with your family this spring and summer at Scotney Castle. Do book your car parking in advance to guarantee entry to the site, but there's no need to book entry.
Spring Butterfly Spotter Trail (17 May - 15 June)
Venture on a Butterfly Expedition at Scotney Castle. Dive into the enchanting world of butterflies with our exciting spotter trail around the stunning Scotney Castle Gardens.
Join us in the beautiful spring gardens to discover and learn about the vibrant butterflies that call Scotney Castle home.
Collect your free Butterfly Trail Sheet from the visitor centre and enjoy spotting butterflies we have hidden around the blooming gardens, along with fun facts about these fluttering favourites!
The trail takes place between Saturday 17 May - Sunday 17 June, from 10am-5pm, with last entry at 4.30pm. This trail is most-suited to younger children, but everyone welcome.
Scotney Castle's Summer of Play (19 July - 31 August)
This summer, Scotney Castle invites families to dive into a season of fun, imagination, and adventure with our festival-themed Summer of Play! Set in a beautiful meadow, this event offers a vibrant mix of activity zones designed to spark creativity, active-play and connection with nature.
The festival meadow is bigger and better than ever, featuring five themed zones that offer something for everyone:
- Performance Zone: Take centre stage with costumes and props, perform a Punch & Judy puppet show, make music at the instrument wall, or dance with the party machine.
- Sports Zone: Run wild in the open meadow with football, badminton, Twister, crazy golf, an obstacle course, and a space hopper race track.
- Creative Zone: Let your imagination soar—draw on the walls, tell wild stories, and get messy in a space where creativity knows no bounds.
- Nature Zone: Explore the sensory walkway, discover your animal twin, and spin the wheel for fun outdoor challenges in this hands-on nature adventure.
- Games Zone: Enjoy classic board games in giant form and test your circus skills with juggling, plate spinning, and stilt-walking.
Sponsored by Starling Bank.
Scotney Summer Season - Outdoor theatre for the whole family
Nothing says summer like an outdoor live event. A picnic basket full of your favourite treats, starlit nights, laughter with family and friends, and an evening of fantastic music or gripping theatre to entertain...click here to view our full programme of outdoor theatre this August.
Spotter strolls and family days out
Have an outdoor adventure out on the estate, spotting sheep, counting the chocolate brown Sussex cattle, and seeing all the diffent colours of spring. Why not find the Wilderness Camp and make a den in the ancient woodland? Why not forage for wild food on the estate or make friends with a minibeast?
The estate's blue route across the parkland is buggy friendly and a great place to let off steam but can get a bit wet and muddy so remember your wellies during spells of wet-weather. If you're looking for a shorter option, you can explore the garden with its hard-surface paths and hidden walkways - perfect for a game of hide and seek.
Stop for a picnic or finish the day with an ice cream from the kiosk or pocket-money treat from the shop and you'll have tired but happy little explorers.
Badger & Pepper natural play area
The Badger and Pepper play area, complete with mud kitchen, ball run, play house, toddler swing and natural drum kit, is a perfect place for younger children to let off steam. You'll find it in the main garden, half-way down the hill on the right-hand side.
Wilderness Camp
Wilderness Camp in Colliers Wood is the perfect place for older children to get back to nature, making dens, playing amongst the trees.
'50 things to do before you're 11¾'
Here are just a few of the ideas from the list ...
- No 2: Roll down a really big hill
- No 4: Build a den
- No 6: Go welly wandering
- No 7: Fly a kit - head onto the estate for this
- No 8: Spot a fish
- No 12: Have fun with sticks
- No 13: Make a mud creation - head to Badger & Pepper's play area
- No 30: Go on a scavenger hunt
- No 31: Make friends with a bug
- No 44: Watch a bird
- No 50: Take a friend on a nature adventure - double the fun!
Why not check out the full list here?
Planning your visit - Good to know
- Accessible WCs with baby and toddler changing facilities are available in the central Courtyard, near the shop and tea-room.
- An additional change area is next to the black timber clad property office by the car park.
- There are no toilet facilities or catering facilities in the garden or on the estate.
- The tea-room in the Courtyard sells a wide range of snacks and ice-creams, children’s lunch boxes, and hot and cold drinks and full meals. Full lunches are available 12-2pm.
- At peak times there is an additional kiosk in the Courtyard selling drinks and snacks. Doggy ice-creams are also on sale in the Courtyard tea-room so no family member need miss out.
- The shop in the Courtyard sells a range of good-quality pocket money toys as well as children's books.
- The second-hand bookshop by the Visitor Entrance has a Children's Corner. With children's books from 50 pence, and others from £1, it's well worth a visit.
- If it is practicable, baby carriers are a better way to travel with young ones on the estate as the routes are not fully buggy-friendly. The estate can also become very muddy and water-logged in winter or after heavy rain.
- Dogs are welcome but must be kept on a short lead. Only assistance dogs may go into the house, castle and walled garden.
- The all-weather paths in the garden are suitable for prams, buggies and mobility scooters. There are some steps from the terrace at the back of the house, but an alternative route into the garden is available.
- Prams, buggies and rucksack-style baby carriers need to be left outside when visiting the mansion house.
- For everyone's enjoyment and safety, scooters, bicycles and ball games are not permitted in the garden.