Thornton Glen, Scottish Wildlife Trust

The Scottish Wildlife Trust's Thornton Glen sits just outside Dunbar and feels like stepping into someone's private nature reserve - except it's completely open to the public. You're walking through woodland that's genuinely wild, with proper paths that wind between ancient trees and open onto glimpses of grassland where you might spot roe deer if you're quiet enough.

What you're actually doing here is moving through different habitats - woodland gives way to open ground, then sometimes scrubland depending on which path you take. There's no visitor centre or facilities to speak of, which is refreshingly honest. Bring binoculars and a bird book, and you'll have a decent afternoon. Without them, it's still pleasant enough, though you'll spend half the time wondering what that rustling was.

Walkers and keen birdwatchers will get the most from Thornton Glen. Families with young kids might find it a bit shapeless - there's no playground, no obvious "destination" you're walking toward. It's the kind of place you go to breathe and observe, not to tick off an attraction. The Scottish Wildlife Trust manages it seriously, which means the paths stay in reasonable nick and the wildlife gets left alone.

If you're staying at Belhaven Bay Caravan Park just down the road, it's worth a morning visit before heading into Dunbar itself. Allow two hours to avoid rushing. There's no charge, though donations help the Trust do its work. Go on a weekday if possible - weekends bring enough people to spook the deer.