Frenich Wood

Walking into Frenich Wood feels like stepping properly off the beaten path, even though you're only a few minutes from Pitlochry. This is Scottish woodland as it should be - dense, atmospheric, with the kind of dappled light that makes you understand why people write poems about forests. The trees rise up around you, mostly ancient conifers mixed with broadleaf species, and the forest floor is thick enough that your footsteps go quiet.

It's not a manicured visitor attraction with marked trails and interpretation boards. What you get instead is a genuine woodland walk, the sort where you actually feel like you've found something rather than just ticked a box. Allow an hour or so for a good wander, maybe longer if you want to lose yourself a bit. Families with older kids will manage fine - younger ones might get bored if they're expecting facilities, but those who like mucking about in trees and spotting wildlife will be glued to it.

The forest works brilliantly as a half-day addition to a park stay at places like Parkdean Resorts Tummel Valley or Faskally Woods, both close by. Pair it with a visit to nearby Pitlochry proper if you want town amenities and fish and chip shops. Winter's dramatic here, but spring through autumn is when the wood really comes alive. Go on a quieter weekday if you can - you'll have the place pretty much to yourself.