Newmillhaugh Plantation

The Tay Valley holds plenty of woodland walks, but Newmillhaugh Plantation is one that actually rewards the detour from Perth. This isn't some manicured visitor attraction - it's a proper working forest where you can genuinely lose yourself for an afternoon without bumping into tour groups.

What you're dealing with is mixed woodland, the sort of place where the paths are well-trodden but the crowds aren't. The plantation sits inland from Perth, and the appeal is straightforward: decent walking through mature trees, decent air, and the kind of quiet you don't often find near a town. Bring proper boots if it's been wet - the ground can be boggy in patches, and drainage isn't always its strong suit.

This suits walkers far more than casual visitors. You'll want at least two hours to make it worthwhile, though you can do a quick loop in forty minutes if you're pressed. There's no café, no visitor centre, no facilities to speak of. It's free, naturally, and you can turn up whenever you like.

If you're based at Broadslap Farm Caravan Club just four miles away, or splashing out at Luxury Hideaways nearby, Newmillhaugh works nicely as a morning sortie before heading into Perth proper. Greenhill Farm Glamping is another option within striking distance. The plantation isn't dramatic - no ravines or viewpoints that'll make your jaw drop - but it's the kind of place that reminds you why people spend their holidays in Scotland rather than Benidorm.