Broom Wood

The trees here are thick and old, with proper woodland floors that smell of earth and pine needles. Broom Wood is a straightforward forest walk near Laurencekirk in Aberdeenshire, nothing more, but that's rather the point. You get proper Highland woodland without the tourist infrastructure of somewhere like Cairngorms.

It's decent for families who want to let kids burn off energy among the trees without worrying about getting lost on major peaks. The paths are manageable and the canopy does that thing forests do - keeps you cool in summer, peaceful year-round. Dog walkers seem to use it regularly. There's no visitor centre nonsense or admission fee drama as far as anyone's reported.

Won't take all day - a solid hour or two depending on how much you meander. Go when the light filters through properly, early morning or late afternoon. Avoid peak midges season if you're not keen on having your ankles eaten.

If you're staying at Royal Arch Riverside Park, it's only a few miles away and beats a generic stroll round the caravan site. Works well as a quick forest break between other Aberdeenshire attractions. It's not going to blow your mind with dramatic vistas or rare species, but it's proper woodland, and that's what it does.