Dess Waterfall

The walk to Dess Waterfall from Aboyne takes you through proper Scottish woodland - the kind where you half expect to bump into a red squirrel round every corner. It's not a massive cascade, but that's rather the point. This is a modest drop that feels genuine, not engineered for Instagram, and the surrounding forest gives it real character.

You'll need decent boots because the path gets boggy in places, especially after rain. Allow about an hour return trip from the car park, though you could stretch it to ninety minutes if you're taking photos or just soaking up the atmosphere. The waterfall works best in spring or after heavy rainfall when there's proper water volume - summer can leave it looking a bit lacklustre.

Families with older children will get more from this than toddlers, mainly because of the walk itself rather than the destination. It's the sort of spot that appeals to walkers and nature types rather than those after a big dramatic landmark moment. The forest around it matters as much as the water itself.

It fits nicely into a broader Deeside exploration - Aboyne Loch Caravan Park puts you in the right area for tackling this along with walks along the River Dee itself. Tarland Camping & Caravanning Club Site, six miles further on, gives you similar access. Neither park is particularly fancy, but both work well as bases for this kind of low-key Highland wandering.