Acharn Waterfall viewing platform

The walk to Acharn Waterfall takes you through proper woodland, following the River Tay upstream from Pitlochry. It's not a strenuous hike - maybe forty minutes each way - but it's steep enough in places that you'll feel like you've earned the view.

What you get at the end is a viewing platform overlooking the falls themselves, which crash down through a narrow gorge in a satisfying rush of white water. The platform's well-positioned, so you're not craning your neck or standing on tiptoes to see properly. On a decent day the light catches the spray quite beautifully. In winter, when the water's high, it's genuinely dramatic.

This is ideal territory for families who want something a bit more active than a stroll round a visitor centre, or for walkers who fancy combining it with other trails in the area. The woodland's lovely year-round, though spring and autumn are probably the sweetest times - summer brings the midges, which can be maddening.

If you're camping at Glengoulandie just down the road, this makes an excellent morning walk before breakfast. Takes the edge off any restlessness in the kids, and you're back in time for bacon rolls. The path's well-maintained and marked, though it can be boggy after rain, so proper shoes are essential.

The falls themselves aren't the tallest or most dramatic in Scotland, but the setting's intimate enough that it feels like discovering something personal rather than ticking off a famous spot.