Badiebath Wood

The forest floor at Badiebath Wood is carpeted in moss and fallen needles, the kind of place where your footsteps go quiet and you can actually hear the wind in the pines. It's a proper woodland walk near Turriff, with trails that wind through mixed forest - Scots pine, spruce, and deciduous trees creating a layered canopy overhead.

This isn't a manicured country estate with visitor centres and tea rooms. It's straightforward forest, which is exactly why it works. You get decent paths but enough wildness to feel like you've actually gone somewhere. The trails suit families who don't need constant entertainment and walkers after a genuine woodland experience. Give yourself an hour minimum, though you could easily stretch it to two if you're the type to stop and listen.

Timing-wise, spring and autumn are cracking - less midgy than summer, better light than winter. The forest holds its own in wet weather too, with good drainage under the trees.

It pairs well with a stay at Ythan Valley Campsite, just five and a half miles away. That's close enough for an easy morning or afternoon outing without the drive becoming part of the holiday. The campsite itself is solid - 4.8 rating - so you've got a decent base for exploring this corner of Aberdeenshire. Turriff's a working town rather than a tourist hotspot, which keeps things honest. No pretence, just a good walk in the woods.