Crombie Country Park

The walk around Crombie Country Park loops past water and through proper woodland - the sort of place where you actually notice the quiet. It's a reservoir at heart, so there's water on three sides if you pick the longer circuit, and the paths are well-maintained enough that you won't need hiking boots, though trainers with grip help on damp days.

This is a solid choice for families with primary-age kids or anyone after a gentle two-hour stomp from Forfar. The tree cover means it's not exposed when the weather turns, and there are spots to sit and watch the water if someone needs a break. It's not dramatic - no fell views, no dramatic drops - but it's the kind of place that settles you down rather than hypes you up.

Walkers will get the most from the longer route rather than pottering about near the car park. History types won't find much here beyond the Victorian engineering of the dam itself. Summer weekends bring families, which is fine, though you'll have company. Winter mornings are quieter and the light across the water is better for photos.

If you're staying at Greenhillock Glamping just down the road, this makes an easy morning activity before heading elsewhere. It works best as part of a broader Aberdeenshire circuit rather than a destination in itself - combine it with a run into Forfar for lunch or link it to other walking routes in the area. Admission appears to be free, and you can do it in whatever time suits you.