If you're lucky enough to be staying in one of the many holiday cottages in Scotland then you may well be looking for ideas for days out. This article looks at four different activities that you may well not have come across and they all make for great days out.

Sea life off the Isle of Mull

Scotland is well know for its fantastic sea life and getting to see dolphins or whales in their natural environment is an experience that few people will want to turn down. The town of Tobermoryis just one of the destinations you can head too for a day out on a boat on the open ocean.

There's a lot you can see while out on the waves, from the sleek bottlenose and common dolphins leaping from the waves, to the lesser spotted minkes and orcas. Another common site off the shore is the fantastic basking shark, which many people mistake for a whale, and although it may be a member of the shark family it's really a gentle giant living off the oceans plankton.

A day out on the Jacobite Steam Train

Widely recognised as one of the top railway journeys in the world, this 84 mile trip around the west highlands and is a fantastic day out. The rail journey features the best of the Scottish landscapes, the mountains, lochs and beaches, along with the now famous Glenfinnan Viaduct that featured in the Harry Potter movies.

A Trip to Callendar House

This French-style château is something of an oddity as its set not in France but in the Scottish town of Falkirk. The building stands proudly in Callendar Park and its features include many small pointed turrets and stout walls, and has over the years played host to a great verity of the rich and powerful, from Mary Queen of Scots to Oliver Cromwell.

The historical site also features a set of actors who at certain points in the day work to recreate life as it was in the 19th century here, with authentic period costume and fantastic historical knowledge.

A Visit to the Cream o' Galloway

Last, and by no means least, is a day out to a fantastic Scottish ice-cream factory! Certainly a trip that's bound to bring smiles to the faces of all the family.

The Eco-friendly factory, Cream o' Galloway, is set in beautiful Scottish scenery and it's not just ice-cream on offer here! The site features a fantastic adventure playground, underground tunnels, climbing towers and even a 3D maze.

And if you feel like you need a little walk after all the ice-cream then their is a woodland nature trail that all the family can enjoy.

AK Villas are experts in the field of Holiday cottages Scotland who also offer an extensive range of Cotswolds cottages. http://www.akvillas.com/britain/cotswolds/