Aviemore Dog Park

Your dog's going to lose its mind the moment you arrive at Aviemore Dog Park. It's a proper off-lead space in the heart of the Highlands where your mutt can actually sprint without you white-knuckling the lead for once. The park sits right in the shadow of the Cairngorms, which means views while you're standing about watching your spaniel make friends with a Border collie.

It's mainly open grassland with trees dotted about - enough shelter if the Scottish weather turns (and it will). You'll see everything from terriers to Great Danes having a proper social, which is brilliant if your dog gets anxious around other animals because you can see what's coming. There's room to throw a ball without losing it in heather within five seconds, and you won't feel cramped even when it's moderately busy.

Give it 45 minutes to an hour. Your dog will be knackered, which honestly makes the rest of your holiday runs smoother. It's free, no gates or fancy setup - just a space where dogs run free.

If you're staying at Highland Glen Holiday Park or Dalraddy just down the road, this is your morning sorted. The nearby villages have shops and cafes if you fancy a coffee while your dog dries off. Not a spectacle, not a destination in itself, but if you've got a dog, it's exactly what you need. Worth the detour when you're passing through Aviemore anyway.