Craigiehowe Wood

A proper woodland walk on the outskirts of Inverness, Craigiehowe Wood is the sort of place locals know but tourists often miss. The forest sits just a few miles from the city centre, making it ideal if you're staying at Fortrose Bay Campsite and fancy stretching your legs without driving far.

What you get here are mixed woodland trails winding through mature trees, with paths ranging from straightforward loops to slightly more challenging terrain. It's peaceful - genuinely quiet - and the kind of spot where you might actually see red squirrels if you're lucky and keep your eyes open. The walk takes anything from 45 minutes to two hours depending on which routes you pick.

Families with primary school-aged kids will manage this fine, though younger ones might struggle with muddier sections after rain. It's less a destination attraction and more a proper local wood - no facilities, no visitor centre, no queues. Just trees and paths. That's the appeal if you ask me.

Best visited in autumn when the light filters through golden leaves, though any season works. Park up nearby and go in the morning if you want the place to yourself. It won't blow your mind, but as part of a Highlands trip combining nearby parks and Inverness itself, it's well worth the walk and costs you nothing.