Garvel Wood

Walking into Garvel Wood near Fraserburgh feels like stepping off the map properly - this isn't a manicured forest trail with benches every hundred metres. It's proper Highland woodland, the sort of place where you can actually hear yourself think. The trees are dense enough that even on grey days - and there are plenty of those in Aberdeenshire - there's something atmospheric about it.

The wood itself is manageable for families with decent legs, though younger kids might find the muddier stretches tiresome. What you get is genuine forest floor underfoot, a chance to spot red squirrels if you're quiet enough, and the kind of silence that's become rare. There's no visitor centre or cafe, which is either refreshing or disappointing depending on how you feel about that sort of thing. Allow a couple of hours to wander without rushing.

It works well as a morning stop if you're basing yourself at one of the nearby parks - AC/DC Glamping is only three miles away and Down On The Farm's six miles further. Both are five-star rated, so accommodation's sorted. The wood sits nicely within striking distance of the Fraserburgh coast too, so you could combine it with some proper seaside time without the crowds.

Go when the weather's been dry for a day or two. Wet conditions make it heavy going, and there's genuinely nowhere to shelter. It's free to access - no gates, no fees - which keeps things simple.