Wood of Wrae

The Wood of Wrae sits just outside Turriff, a proper pocket of ancient woodland that catches most visitors off-guard. You're walking through a mix of broadleaf and conifer - oak, beech, pine - with paths that wind up and down the slopes rather than following any neat grid. It's not manicured, which is exactly why it works.

The main appeal here is straightforward woodland walking. The paths are well enough trodden that you won't get lost, but it still feels like you're finding your own way. There's a burn running through parts of it, and if you time it right after rain, that adds something. The canopy's dense enough in summer to keep things cool, and the floor's carpeted with moss and ferns. It's the sort of place where you can genuinely breathe.

Don't expect dramatic views or a 'big reveal' at the top - this isn't that kind of wood. What you get instead is the quiet pleasure of being under trees. Families with kids aged six upwards will have a decent time, though there's nothing specifically built for younger ones. Walkers doing longer routes through Aberdeenshire will find it a worthwhile stop on the way through Turriff, and it ties in easily with a stay at Turriff Caravan Park if you're basing yourselves in the area.

There's no entrance fee that I found, and you can do a reasonable circuit in about ninety minutes. Come on a weekday morning if you want solitude. Weekends can get a bit busier with locals.