Diamond Jubliee Park

The path into Diamond Jubilee Park winds through thick Scots pine and birch, the forest floor soft underfoot and the air genuinely quiet in a way you don't get near towns. It's a proper nature reserve tucked into Aberdeenshire's Highland fringe, just outside Blairgowrie, and worth a half-day walk if you're staying at Nethercraig Holiday Park nearby.

What you're really here for is the chance to spot wildlife in relatively undisturbed woodland. Red squirrels if you're lucky, though they're shy. More reliably you'll see various woodland birds and, depending on season, wildflowers that justify the slow pace. The trails are well-marked but not overcrowded, which is exactly what a nature reserve should feel like.

It's best suited to adults who actually enjoy a quiet walk, or families with older kids keen on a spot of wildlife spotting rather than playground thrills. Younger children might find it a bit samey after forty minutes - there's no visitor centre, no café, no facilities to speak of. Just trees and the odd bird call.

Allowing an hour and a half is realistic. Go mid-week if possible, and early morning gives you better wildlife viewing. Spring's probably your best bet for variety, though autumn light through the pines is something else.

If you're based at Nethercraig, this pairs well with a morning walk before heading elsewhere in the park system. It's not a destination on its own, but as a pocket of genuine woodland calm within reach of holiday accommodation, it does the job properly.