Carbarns Wood

There's something about Scottish woodland that makes even a modest forest feel properly wild. Carbarns Wood, tucked into the rolling country south of Lanark, isn't a grand estate with manicured paths - it's the real deal. You're walking through genuine mixed woodland where the trees have had their own way for decades, and the undergrowth gets thick and tangled in summer.

It's the sort of place walkers come for an hour or two, picking their way through oak and beech with views opening across the Lowlands when you hit a clearing. The pathways aren't exactly signposted adventures - more well-worn trails where locals clearly know their way about. If you're expecting a visitor centre or tea room, you'll be disappointed. This is just you, the trees, and whatever wildlife hasn't bolted at the sound of your footsteps.

Families with children who can handle uneven ground and don't need constant entertainment will find it worthwhile. Photographers quite like it too - that dappled light through the canopy photographs well, and the surrounding landscape gives decent backdrop shots.

Nearby Lanark's the proper town for facilities and supplies. If you're based at Ecosse Glamping five miles away, this works as a morning walk before heading elsewhere. It's free to visit, naturally. Allow two to three hours depending on how lost you want to get, though honestly, you won't get properly lost. South Lanarkshire has better-known spots, but Carbarns Wood delivers if you want woodland walking without the crowds.