Culloden Forest

Walking into Culloden Forest feels like stepping into proper Highland terrain - tall Scots pines rising up around you, the ground soft with needles underfoot. It's a working woodland just outside Inverness, managed for timber but open for anyone to ramble through. The trails are straightforward enough, ranging from short loops to longer woodland walks depending on your mood and how much time you've got.

This isn't a manicured country park. It's a real forest where you'll spot the occasional forestry vehicle and hear the occasional chainsaw in the distance, which honestly adds to the authenticity rather than detracting from it. You get good views across the Moray Firth on the clearer days, and if you're lucky with wildlife, you might see red squirrels or buzzards. Most people can work their way round a decent section in 90 minutes to two hours.

Walkers will get the most from this - it's not flashy enough to hold young children's attention for long unless they're the type who'll happily splash in burns and hunt for pine cones. History enthusiasts will appreciate the proximity to the Culloden Battlefield, which is just a few miles away and far more focused if you're after that story.

It's free to access and works brilliantly as a stretch-your-legs stop between the nearby campsites at Fortrose Bay or Barrow Campsite Nairn. Don't expect facilities - there's no café or visitor centre - but that's rather the point. A good, honest forest walk that won't waste your time.