Bellfield Park

The Bellfield Park nature reserve sits just outside Inverness, offering a proper escape into the Highlands without needing to drive hours into the wilderness. It's a working landscape rather than a manicured attraction - woodland walks, open moorland, and the kind of light that makes you understand why people romanticise Scotland.

You'll find yourself wandering through native woodland and across grassland where you might spot red squirrels if you're lucky, or at least see evidence they've been about. The network of paths ranges from gentle forest strolls to longer treks across rougher terrain. Birdwatchers should bring binoculars; it's the sort of place where you notice things - a flash of a buzzard, the crack of a fallen branch under your foot, the way the light shifts between the trees.

Walkers and nature enthusiasts will get the most from a visit. Families with older kids will do well; younger ones might find it a bit lacking in obvious attractions after an hour or so. There's no visitor centre or facilities that I'm aware of, so come prepared with water and a packed lunch if you're planning a proper session.

If you're based at one of the nearby parks - Ardtower or Go Glamping at Loch Ness are both rated highly and within three kilometres - this works as a half-day outing without committing to a major expedition. Proper hillwalking country is closer still, but Bellfield offers something gentler: the real Highlands without the scrambling.