Family Day Out (Loudoun Castle)

Member Name: generalcoburn

Product:	Loudoun Castle
Date:	12/08/09 (24 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: No Queues, Reasonable, Nice Location and Scenery, Good For Youngsters

Disadvantages: Height Restrictions, Not For Adrenalin Fans, Food Expensive, Limited Rides

Loudoun Castle Theme Park, Galston, Ayrshire

There are two ways of looking at this park, one view is that you are a theme park/roller coaster fan with experience of the top parks the other is that you have a young family looking for a day out without too much distance between you and the park.

Lets look at the second option, There are two roller coasters on site, twist and shout and the rat. Twist and Shout is a small loop coaster but is quite enjoyable for kids of 9 up (younger usually being too small), the rat is a wild mouse type ride and is quite good provided you dont compare it with the wild mouse at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. Other attractions include the Black Pearl which rotates you upside down and barnstormer, a very very small yet quite good drop tower (around third of heigth of ice blast at blackpool or cliff hanger at Flamingoland). most of the other attractions are aimed at younger visitors, the Rory the Lion show is aimed at toddlers but did'nt hold their attention for very long. Basically the park is quite good value if you have a young family as there are plenty of small funfair rides, height restrictions do seem extreme with my eight year old who has been on all the white knuckle rides at other parks but was'nt allowed on barnstormer and only just made the two roller coasters.

The theme park/roller coaster fan option which I mentioned above changes the perspective of the park considerably, there is nothing to make the hair on the back of your neck stand up and once you have been on the two coasters, Black Pearl and Barnstormer you will be ready for home.

Entry costs £56 for a family of 4 and one gripe is having to pay even if you have no intention of going on anything although under 4's get in free.

Lovely woodland setting but there is a wasp problem so take something to keep them away.

We used our tesco vouchers to get in (£5 of club card vouchers gets you £20 in entry tokens) however you cannot buy a family ticket with them and the food is expensive so take a packed lunch.

All in all it was a highly enjoyable free day for a young family with no queuing involved for any rides, this was partly due to going on a week day but its not overly busy at weekends, we would have paid for it if we had to but its definately not for die hard coaster fans.

Summary: Family Fun Day Out