Stranduff Wood

The woodland around Stranduff doesn't announce itself - you'll find it quietly sitting in the rolling landscape between Tullochvenus and the wider Aberdeenshire hills. It's the sort of place that rewards a proper wander rather than a quick sprint through, with decent paths threading between mature conifers and the occasional clearing where you can actually see where you're going.

These woods work best for people who like a proper walk without the faffing about - families with older kids will get something out of it, though younger children might tire before the good bits reveal themselves. The forest floor is mostly soft underfoot, which is either brilliant or boggy depending on the weather. Winter's your best bet if you want dry boots.

There's no visitor infrastructure to speak of, so come prepared. No café, no car park facilities that I could find, no charge that I'm aware of - this is genuinely free roaming. Allow a couple of hours if you're doing a proper circuit, less if you're just having a mooch about.

If you're based at Feughside Caravan Park - a solid spot about six miles south - Stranduff Wood makes for a decent half-day excursion when the weather's on your side. It won't be the highlight of your trip, but it's the kind of Scottish woodland that grows on you the longer you're there. Real and unpretentious, which is rather the point.