Boase Wood

The woodland stretches quiet and dark just outside St Andrews - proper forest floor stuff with tall pines and the sort of peace you don't get in town. It's the kind of place where you actually hear yourself think, which sounds obvious until you're in it and realise how rare that is. Boase Wood is relatively compact, so you're not talking a full-day expedition. An hour's wander through the trees is plenty, though there's nothing stopping you sitting on a log for another hour if the mood takes you.

It works best for walkers who want something quick and straightforward without the faffing about with signposts. Families with restless children might find it a bit dull - there's no playground or designated trail, just trees and bracken and the possibility of spotting the odd bit of wildlife. History buffs won't find much to get excited about either; this isn't ancient woodland with a story, it's simply a place trees grow.

Free access, no facilities that I could see, no set opening hours as far as I can tell. The nearby caravan parks - Cairnsmill is just under a mile away, St Andrews Holiday Park barely two miles off - make this ideal for an easy morning stroll when you're staying locally. It's the sort of walk you slot in before breakfast or after an afternoon round at the golf club, combining decent fresh air with zero logistical headache. Not a destination in itself, but rather a pleasant break from the town if the weather cooperates.