Clyde Valley Woodlands National Nature Reserve (Cartland Crags)

The walk down into Cartland Crags catches you off guard. You're standing on the edge of moorland one moment, then suddenly the River Clyde has carved out a proper gorge beneath your feet, all red sandstone cliffs and dense woodland. The reserve stretches across the valley floor - it's the largest area of semi-natural woodland in South Lanarkshire - and once you're down there, it feels genuinely remote despite being just outside Lanark.

Most visitors come for the gorge itself. The main path takes you down through beech and oak to the river, where the crags loom above you in slabs of rust-coloured rock. It's not a massive walk - maybe 45 minutes to an hour if you're taking your time - but it's steep enough going back up that you'll feel it in your legs. The river's loud and the trees muffle everything else. Kids will enjoy the scramble down and back, though it's not flat enough for very small ones.

Go early morning if you can. The light catches the sandstone differently then, and you'll likely have the place to yourself. Spring's particularly good - the woodland floor's thick with wild garlic and the trees are still letting light through.

It's free to access and works well as a half-day outing if you're staying at Ecosse Glamping nearby. Don't expect facilities - there's nowhere to grab a coffee at the reserve itself, so bring what you need from Lanark.