Clearly Wood

Walking into Clearly Wood feels like stepping into something properly wild - the kind of forest that doesn't announce itself. It's tucked away near Laurencekirk in Aberdeenshire, a serious patch of woodland where the trees have real weight and the paths wind through the sort of landscape that reminds you why Scotland does forests so well.

The woodland itself is straightforward enough: dense mixed forest with decent walking routes that let you get lost in the best way. No theme park nonsense, no visitor centre - just trees, space, and the occasional glint of water if you're lucky. It's the sort of place where an hour disappears and you've barely covered a mile, which is either brilliant or frustrating depending on your mood.

Walkers will get the most out of this. Families with older kids who can manage uneven ground will find it worthwhile, but it's not a push-chair destination and younger children might find the lack of facilities a bit thin. Bring a packed lunch and don't expect there to be anything on-site.

If you're based at Dovecot Caravan Park or Royal Arch Riverside Park - both solid spots just down the road - this is an easy detour for a morning or afternoon. The weather in the Highlands can turn, so go early in the day when you've still got light. It costs nothing to enter and you can spend as little or as long as you like. Real woodland, no shortcuts.