Druidsdale Strip

The Druidsdale Strip is a proper woodland walk just outside Stonehaven, tucked into the Scottish Highlands where the trees get thick and the air smells like damp earth and pine. It's exactly what it sounds like - a strip of forest you can wander through, ideal if you're after something green and quiet without needing to commit to a full day's hiking. The paths are straightforward enough, though they can be muddy after rain, which happens fairly often round these parts.

Who'll enjoy it most? Anyone staying at the nearby caravan parks - Upper Crawton Park and Cloak Caravan Park are both just down the road - will find this a cracking spot for a morning stroll before breakfast. It's the sort of place where kids can let off steam without you worrying they'll get lost, and walkers will appreciate the decent woodland scenery without the slog of anything more ambitious. Adults after a bit of peace and fresh air will get that too.

Time-wise, allow forty minutes to an hour depending on how far you fancy going. There's no visitor centre or facilities that we're aware of, so it's genuinely just you, the trees, and whatever weather Aberdeenshire decides to throw at you. It's free to access, which is always welcome.

It works well as part of a broader park holiday in the area - pair it with a morning walk here, then head into Stonehaven town centre for lunch by the coast. The Stonehaven Queen Elizabeth Park Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite is a bit further out but gives you access to proper beach time afterwards. Not spectacular, but solid value for a free woodland break.