Scone Spy: We’re Cafe Party animals at Jupiter Artland

The summer months bring forth breaks from work and school, and long afternoons that seem to stretch out further than the sun on the horizon.

For kids, this means a time of excitement and freedom. For adults, the weeks are often packed with childish cries of boredom and the fear of an empty wallet.

But I’ve always found that to keep children engaged and entertained – and subsequently exhausted enough to sleep at bedtime – the best answer is to find somewhere with fresh air and open spaces, where they can run around, play and maybe even learn something outside the classroom.

So, when I was recently put in charge of a few wee ones for the day, an outdoor adventure was the only item on my agenda.

After packing everyone into the car, we whizzed off down the A71 to find one of my favourite attractions, where modern art meets wonderful green spaces – and lovers of firm, cakey treats can also indulge their sweet tooth.

Set across 100 acres of meadow and woodland, Jupiter Artland is a contemporary sculpture park located 12 miles outside of Edinburgh, and features 35 permanent sculptures from renowned artists, including Antony Gormley, as well as a seasonal programme of exhibitions and events, and five indoor gallery spaces, presumably for less than sunny visits.

It really is the perfect place for children to engage with a little bit of culture, while also enjoying some clean, country air, and my little group loved wandering around the grounds to gaze up at the various artworks.

It’s worth noting that, although we arrived by car, next time we visit we’ll hop on the bus, as visitors can enjoy a 20% discount on admission with presentation of their travel tickets.

Once we all had enough sunshine and exercise, we made a beeline for the site’s beautiful café, which is open daily from 10am until September. Bright, quirky and decorated entirely in the most beautiful pink hue, Café Party wouldn’t look out of place on some of the world’s trendiest streets – playful murals adorn the walls and glass-topped tables shine under the lovely art deco ceiling lights to create a space that’s fun and friendly.

We ordered a simple selection from the menu, including green tea, a lovely flat white coffee and fresh homemade scones with delicious berry jam.

Our food and drinks arrived promptly and were placed next to a vase of fresh wildflowers, which really was a lovely touch on each table.

We couldn’t fault the service and it was excellent to see such attention to fresh, local produce on the wider menu.

After a day of culture and cakes, the children were tired and so was this aging Scone Spy.

But I’m very sure I won’t have to use my sleuth skills to search out a delightful day again, as we’ll soon return to this wonderful attraction.

Welcome

Friendly and, more importantly, fun. 9/10

Location

Set within beautiful, art-filled grounds that everyone should experience. 9/10

Scones

A wee bit drier than I would have liked, but still tasty. The jam was top-notch. 7/10