Cotton of Gask Wood

A proper woodland walk through ancient Scots pine and birch, Cotton of Gask Wood sits just outside Forfar in Aberdeenshire. The forest floor is thick with moss and bracken, the kind of place where you half expect to spot a red squirrel darting between branches. Trails wind through the wood with decent signposting, though nothing too manicured - this feels like actual forest, not a theme park version of one.

It's ideal for families after a couple of hours of fresh air without needing to plan a military operation. Kids will either love scrambling over fallen logs or get bored after thirty minutes depending on their temperament. Walkers and nature types get more out of it - the deeper paths reward you with proper quiet, the kind that makes you realise how little you get it at home.

There's no visitor centre or facilities that I'm aware of, so go in expecting trees and trails, not cafes. Best visited in autumn when the colours shift or spring when the woodland floor comes alive. Summer can be a bit muggy under the canopy.

If you're staying at Greenhillock Glamping nearby, this makes a solid half-day outing to stretch your legs without driving far. It won't blow your mind - it's not Cairngorms dramatic - but it's the sort of place that reminds you why Scotland's forests matter, especially after you've spent an afternoon listening to nothing but wind in the leaves.