Ae Forest

The Ae Water runs through this proper working forest in the Scottish Lowlands, and it's one of those places where you actually feel like you've walked into somewhere real rather than somewhere designed for visitors. Ae Forest - pronounced 'eye', not 'ay' - sprawls across the hills south of Dumfries, with walking trails that range from gentle riverside strolls to proper lung-busting climbs through the trees. The woodland here is mixed, so you get everything from tall conifers to deciduous sections, which means the light changes as you move through it. The river itself is the real draw: it's fast-flowing and genuinely beautiful, especially after rain when it roars through the gorge sections.

This is brilliant for serious walkers who want something more than a manicured park trail. If you're here with kids who can manage proper boots and don't need constant entertainment, they'll enjoy spotting the forestry vehicles and crossing the various bridges. The whole thing feels unpolished in the best possible way - you won't find many other people, which is precisely why it's worth the drive from Dumfries.

The nearest glamping options - Burnside of Ae is barely a mile away, and The Outdoor Hotel sits at just over four miles - make this a genuinely brilliant base for a Dumfries & Galloway break. You can walk straight from your accommodation into the forest without the faffing about of finding a car park. Allow two to three hours minimum if you're doing anything beyond a quick loop, and wear proper waterproofs - the Scottish weather doesn't do 'a little damp' very well.