Backhows Plantation

Drive south from Laurencekirk and you'll find yourself among towering conifers that have stood here for decades. Backhows Plantation is a proper working forest - not some manicured country estate, but the real thing. The trees press in on either side of the paths, and on a grey Scottish afternoon, it feels genuinely wild despite being minutes from the main road.

Walkers will get the most from this one. The forest floor is soft underfoot, paths wind through dense woodland, and if you time it right - early morning or late afternoon - you might spot roe deer. Families with younger kids should manage an hour comfortably; teenagers might want longer. It's free to access, which is always welcome.

Where this works well is as a half-day leg of a broader Aberdeenshire itinerary. If you're staying at Royal Arch Riverside Park just down the road, this is a natural add-on - nowhere near as dramatic as some Scottish glens, but honest woodland walking without the crowds. The trees are dense enough that weather matters; heavy rain turns the paths into bogs, so check conditions first. Autumn's probably best - the light shifts nicely through the canopy, and the paths are at their least sodden.

Don't expect views or dramatic scenery. Come for the walk itself, the quiet, and the honest simplicity of a working forest. It's not a destination in itself, but it's exactly what you need if you want to stretch your legs between more showy attractions.