There are organised activities for young people of all ages throughout the year in Cromarty.

For young children
For the very youngest, the Parents and Toddlers Group meets on Tuesday mornings during term-time in the West Church hall. The Cromarty Childcare Centre offers pre-school education, daycare and out-of-school care.

Youth Club (see Youth Club News sub-menu)
Youth Worker Wanda Mackay organises wide-ranging activities for young people. The term-time schedule focuses on out-of-school meetings in the Victoria Hall. Wanda plans additional outdoor, sporting and physical challenging away-days during the summer holidays

Winter 2010 activities include:
♦ Junior Youth Cafe on Monday evenings from 4.00–7.00pm
♦ Senior Youth Cafe on Monday evenings from 6.00–9.00pm
♦ 'Little Crafters' art programme with May Hunter on Mondays from 5.00-7.00pm
♦ Dancing classes with the "fabulous funky Hip Hop Street Dancer Nicky Mackay" on Monday evenings during the school term from November until June (cost £1.50):
     P1–P3 from 3.45–4.30pm
     P4–6th year from 4.30–5.30pm
♦ Chanter classes with Father Mel Langille on Tuesdays from 5.30–6.30pm (cost 50p)

Special activities coming up: Skiing at CairnGorm (15 February), Night Mountain Biking at Learnie (22 February, 1 March), To be announced (29–31 March), Paintball at Wild Woodz (1–2 April).

Wanda reports that this has been a particularly hard year for funding due to budget restrictions. Her priority for funding has been to secure hall rental for both the junior and senior youth cafes and pay for all arts & crafts programmes to keep young people achieving awards throughout 2009-2010.

Visiting Cromarty with children?
For the bucket-and-spade brigade, the west beach in front of the Royal Hotel (always sandy) and the east beach alongside the Links (rocky towards the east end) are good for sand castle construction and exploration of tide pools.

For school-age children, we recommend: EcoVentures wildlife watching boat trips (for children five years and older), Hugh Miller Museum and the Cromarty Courthouse Museum.

In the Victoria Park you will find an outdoor play area suitable for primary-age children, football pitch and enclosed basketball court. There is also a 'pensioners' playpark' adjacent to the children's play equipment — perfect for a grandparent-and-grandchildren's outing.
 

'Magnus in the Air' by Calum Davidson