Clarencefield Wood

A proper walk through decent woodland, Clarencefield Wood sits just outside Annan and delivers what you'd hope for - tall trees, decent paths, and enough peace and quiet to actually hear yourself think. The forest floor is soft underfoot, carpeted with moss and old needles, and there's genuine woodland feel rather than the manicured park vibe you sometimes get.

It's the sort of place where families with older kids or keen walkers will find their time well spent. Young children might get restless after an hour or so unless they're the foraging type, but if you've got teenagers or you just want a solid two-hour ramble before lunch, you'll do well here. The paths are manageable - nothing ridiculous - though they can be boggy after rain, so proper shoes matter.

There's no visitor centre or facilities that I'm aware of, so you're here for the woods themselves. Bring a packed lunch if you fancy stopping halfway through. Access seems straightforward from Annan town centre, which is helpful if you're basing yourself at one of the nearby holiday parks - West Moss-Side Livery and Queensberry Bay are both within a few miles, so this slots in nicely as a morning activity without eating up half your day driving about.

Go when the weather's decent. A grey drizzly day here is just damp woodland. Sunshine makes all the difference.