Scotland’s historic heartland, the Forth Valley, hosts plenty of activities to educate and entertain this half term. From fancy dress parades to drawing and fashion accessory design, the museums, galleries and historic buildings of the Forth’s Timeline project are set for a fun packed autumn break.

 

Organised by Historic Scotland, kids go free to Castle Campbell and Garden, part of the Clackmannanshire Tower Trail, in October. The offer also extends to Stirling Castle, letting children access the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Regimental Museum, in the castle grounds, free.

 

Alloa Tower, another building on the Clackmannanshire Tower Trail, hosts children’s art and craft activities designed to fill that glue and glitter shaped October-break hole. Activities also include traditional children's games and fancy dress parades. They all take place Monday to Friday between 1pm and 5pm.

 

Throughout October the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum is taking part in the big draw, a UK national campaign to encourage drawing as a medium for observation, self-expression and fun. Drawing materials are available to replicate the Stirling heads, a series of portraits carved in Oak around 1540 for King James V to adorn his new palace.

 

The Autumn/Winter Prêt a Porter exhibition is on display in Callendar House. Prêt a Porter is a collection of uniforms from Ailsa Porter who traveled the world for two decades as an air stewardess. Inspired children and adults can have a go at creating their own fashion bags in the 'Bags of Fun Holiday Workshops' that run from 2pm to 4pm, Monday to Friday, during the holiday.

 

Visit www.forthstimeline.net for more about the rich variety of visitor attractions to be discovered in the Forth Valley.