Free Church Wood

A proper woodland walk through ancient Scots pine and spruce, Free Church Wood sits just outside Grantown-on-Spey and makes for a cracking afternoon if you're based at the caravan park nearby. The paths wind through decent mixed forest - nothing wildly dramatic, but honest woodland that feels genuinely wild rather than manicured. You'll find yourself among tall conifers with the occasional opening where light floods through, and if you time it right on a clear day, there are decent vistas toward the Cairngorms.

This is walker territory, really. Not a place where young kids will stay engaged for hours - the forest floor is soft and there's limited scenery variation - but families wanting a two-hour ramble will find it pleasant enough. The trails aren't particularly challenging, which means older folk and anyone recovering from a long drive will manage without complaint. Given it's free and accessible from the caravan park in under ten minutes, it's worth doing once during a longer Highland stay rather than building a whole day around it.

Bring proper footwear because the ground gets boggy after rain. The best time is autumn when the light hits differently through the trees, though summer works if you want shade. Go early morning or late afternoon to avoid the quiet-but-steady flow of locals who clearly know this is a solid local spot. Pair it with a walk into Grantown itself if you need a coffee afterwards.