Derry Wood

Walk into Derry Wood near Crieff and you're immediately surrounded by proper ancient woodland - the kind of place where the canopy is so thick you lose track of time. It's a genuine forest rather than a managed park, with winding trails that feel like you've genuinely discovered them rather than followed a marked route.

The trees are substantial here, mostly Scots pine mixed with broadleaves, and the undergrowth is dense enough to feel genuinely wild. You'll spot the occasional stream cutting through, and on a decent day the light filtering through makes it properly atmospheric. It's the sort of wood where you slow down without meaning to.

This works best for walkers and families who don't need facilities or interpretation boards to have a good time. Kids tend to love the freedom of it - there's room to explore without feeling hemmed in by paths, though you'll want to keep an eye on younger ones. Allow between an hour and two hours depending on how deep you want to go and whether you stop to actually look at anything.

Crieff itself is just down the road, which makes it a decent diversion if you're staying at Loch Earn Leisure Park or Balquhidder Braes Holiday Park. It's not a destination that'll consume a full day, but it's exactly the kind of spot you'll be grateful you knew about when the weather's turned decent and you fancy escaping the holiday park for a proper woodland walk. Free access, no faffing about.