Clunehill Wood

A proper woodland walk through ancient Scots pine and native broadleaf trees, Clunehill Wood sits just outside Blairgowrie in a landscape that feels properly remote despite being only a short drive from civilisation. The woodland floor is soft underfoot, carpeted with moss and fallen needles, and in spring the bluebells are genuinely worth timing a visit around.

This is walker territory first and foremost. The paths wind through the trees without any of the corporate interpretation boards you'd find elsewhere - just you, the forest, and birdsong. Allow a couple of hours if you want to explore properly, though you can do a shorter loop in under an hour. The terrain's manageable rather than challenging, so families with older kids will be fine, though pushchairs would struggle once you're off the main track.

There's nothing fancy here - no cafe, no visitor centre, no admission charge as far as I can tell. That's rather the point. It's the sort of place you visit because you want to be among trees, not because you need an attraction ticked off. Autumn is glorious if you can time it, when the light filters through turning leaves.

If you're based at Nethercraig Holiday Park six miles away, this makes an excellent half-day outing to break up the week. It's quiet enough that you'll likely see roe deer if you move slowly and keep your eyes open. Go in the morning before other walkers arrive.