Gearrchoille Wood

A thick belt of native woodland just outside Ardgay, Gearrchoille Wood feels properly isolated even though it's minutes from the main road. You're walking through Caledonian pine and birch - the sort of forest that should feel wilder than it does, but the paths keep things manageable. The ground is soft underfoot, sometimes boggy, and if you time it right you'll see red squirrels darting between the branches. It's not a destination that'll take up your whole day. Most people work through the main trails in ninety minutes, maybe two hours if you're stopping frequently to listen to the birds or let the kids poke about in the undergrowth. That said, it's exactly the sort of place that justifies a park holiday in the area - low-key, free of charge, and proper restorative after a few days of travel. The nearest proper glamping option is Ardgay Glamping just half a mile away, which means you could easily knock this off in the morning before heading elsewhere. Bring decent boots if it's been wet. The paths aren't maintained to the standard of bigger reserves, so you'll lose the trail occasionally and have to scout for it. Families with children who get bored easily might find it a bit sparse - there's no cafe, no visitor centre, no attractions besides the forest itself. But if you're after an honest walk through Scottish woodland without the crowds of somewhere like Cairngorms, this does the job.