Adventures Await in Scotland with the 'Viking Princess'

CBeebies series the perfect inspiration for a trip to Scotland this half term and Easter

Would-be princesses and princes can follow in the footsteps of Gudrun, the Viking Princess’ footsteps, with a visit to Scotland with their families this half term and Easter. The CBeebies series, made by Glasgow-based indie Maramedia, is narrated by David Tennant and was completely filmed in Scotland.

She may be a small Viking princess, but she has many big adventures: from making friends with reindeer, to learning to fly a Gyrfalcon, to keeping an eye on mischievous red squirrels - it’s all in a day’s work for Gudrun. The series aims to inspire young people to engage with and explore the wild through a magical story.

The five-minute episodes take young viewers on a journey, using a new innovative format combining live-action drama and factual entertainment, as Gudrun and her father, the kindly King Sigurd, encounter the different seasons in Scotland and many animals to befriend along the way.

Check out the Scotland filming locations below for a magical trip – with a nod to the Viking princess herself.

• Reindeer are not just for Christmas! In one episode, Gudrun meets and befriends a lost reindeer. Visitors can travel to the Cairngorm Visitor Centre, which features in the series, to rub noses with Britain's only free-ranging herd of reindeer found in the Cairngorm Mountains. These tame and friendly animals are a joy to all who come and see them. There is a daily guided Hill Trip to see the reindeer, from mid-February, with additional trips during the summer months.

For more information, go to www.cairngormreindeer.co.uk

• Red squirrels are a speciality of Scotland. Take inspiration from Gudrun with a trip to the Rothiemurcus Centre at the Rothiemurcus Estate in Aviemore. Not only is there a camping and caravan park, surrounded by indigenous Caledonian woodland for an exciting adventure, but there are also lots of outdoor activities on offer, such as quad-biking, fishing and pony trekking; little ones might like to try deer feeding or the hairy coo safari.

For more information, see http://rothiemurchus.net

• For a wild, exciting coastal journey, a trip to Isle of Arran is a must. Accessible by ferry from Ardrossan to Brodick, it is here that Gudrun meets otters, seal and crabs. Machrie beach on Arran is a perfect picnic-spot, with beautiful views to Kintyre. Adventure-loving familes can try water sports, rock climbing or a mountain cycle on the coast road from Machrie to the north of the island all the way to Lochranza.

Also, when back on the mainland be sure to visit Culzean Castle on the Ayrshire Coast, which also features in the programme. For opening times check www.nts.org.uk.

• Other exciting spots to come face to face with wild animals and adventure this half term and Easter in Scotland include:

• The Scottish Beaver Trail at Knapdale Forest, located in the heart of Argyll, www.scottishbeavers.org.uk , is great to make some new furry friends (the recommended best time to visit is from the beginning of March).
• Galloway Forest Park, home to the UK’s first Dark Sky Park, which is the perfect place for a family, as well as to see animals such as wild goats, deer, badgers, and if you’re lucky, golden eagles. Stay locally and arrange a visit to with a Dark Sky Ranger or through one of the visitor centres in the park. See http://scotland.forestry.gov.uk/forest-parks/galloway-forest-park/dark-skies for more information.
• Not quite the wolves that Gudrun encounters, but older children (12+) might enjoy a Sled Dog Safari. There is quite the sled dog racing scene in Scotland, with popular rallies taking place in the winter months. Aviemore is home to a designated centre for the sport. Meet the hardworking canines at the kennels and sled dog museum or book a sled dog safari, training session or course with the Cairngorm Sleddog Centre.

  www.sled-dogs.co.uk.

• To encounter other exciting species of animals, from 14 species of deer from around the world, a wolf pack, otters and other rare Scottish species including the wildcat, visitors can head to the Scottish Deer Centre in Cupar, Fife, just over an hour’s drive north of Edinburgh. See www.tsdc.co.uk for more information.

Gudrun, the Viking Princess is currently on CBeebies or on BBC IPlayer at www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer

For more information on exciting Scotland locations to explore, please go to www.visitscotland.com