Craggish Wood

The woodland around Craggish, just outside Crieff, is proper walking country - old-growth trees, decent paths, and the kind of quiet you don't get near towns. It's a genuine forest rather than a manicured park, which means decent boots are worth bringing. The trees here are substantial, the light filters through in that particular way that makes you understand why people wax lyrical about Scottish woodlands. You're looking at anything from a quick half-hour stroll to a couple of hours if you're thorough, depending on which routes you fancy.

This is the sort of place that rewards wanderers more than snap-and-dash visitors. History buffs and keen naturalists will get the most from it, though families with older kids who can handle muddy terrain will find it perfectly decent. The proximity to Crieff means you're never far from a proper café or pub, which helps when someone inevitably gets peckish.

If you're staying at one of the nearby holiday parks - Twenty Shilling Wood, Comrie Holiday Park, or Comrie Croft - Craggish makes for an easy morning out without driving far. Loch Earn Leisure Park and Braidhaugh are slightly further afield but still workable for a woodland day. The forest sits well within the broader walking landscape of Perthshire, and it's refreshingly unpretentious compared to some of the more famous spots. Worth including if you're in the area, but don't reschedule a trip specifically for it.