Play areas

The Highlands is one of nature’s wonderful playgrounds with access to some of the most beautiful and unspoilt areas in the world.

The Highland Council currently have 322 active open equipped play areas which are spread right across the Highlands in both rural and urban locations. It is the Councils aim to provide exciting, stimulating, inclusive and accessible play areas.

Map of Highland Council Play Areas

In this uncertain economic climate, there have been many dedicated and hardworking local communities who have been incredible in managing to source funding to refurbish or redevelop existing play areas and this is to be encouraged.

The Council can support more local communities by signposting them to funding opportunities and advising them on suitable equipment choices, site layout and inclusive provisions. The Council will also monitor equipment installations where required.

Play areas do not always have to include equipment such as swings and slides, they can be designed using the existing natural surroundings and introduce additional landscape features such as mounds, crawling tunnels and boulders or they can simply be hard standing area with painted graphics for example hopscotch or snakes and ladders.

Highland Council takes play provision seriously, there is a dedicated team of Play Technicians working across the Highlands ensuring play areas are safe. The Technicians work in conjunction with the local Amenities teams who are qualified RPII operational inspectors. The teams undertake inspections, carry out repairs and installations and therefore reduce the need to engage specialist contractors whilst providing a consistent level of workmanship.

For more information about how to get involved with upgrading local play areas please contact; amenity.services@highland.gov.uk.

List of play areas

Play Area documents