Drumwhirn Wood

You'll find yourself walking under tall conifers that block out most of the sky, which sounds gloomy but actually creates this lovely cool tunnel effect on warm days. Drumwhirn Wood sits just outside Newton Stewart in Dumfries and Galloway, and it's the sort of forest that rewards a proper wander rather than a quick ten-minute stroll.

The woodland is genuine working forest - you'll see evidence of forestry management, which some people find refreshing and others find a bit less "wild" than they'd hoped. There are paths through it, though they can get muddy in wet weather, so decent boots matter. The whole area's quiet. You won't bump into crowds here, which is half the appeal if you're after a bit of peace.

Walkers get the most from Drumwhirn. It's not a destination with a dramatic viewpoint or a ruined castle at the end - it's just a good, solid woodland walk. Allow an hour to ninety minutes if you're meandering. Kids might find it a bit samey after a while unless they're the type who enjoy spotting wildlife or building dens.

It works brilliantly as part of a Galloway Forest break. Both Galloway Forest Holiday Park and Barnharrow Holiday Pods are barely six miles away, so you could base yourself there and use Drumwhirn as one of several woodland walks in the region. The area's got proper walking credentials - this is just the starting point. Spring and autumn are your best bets for visiting, when the light's better and midges are less of a nuisance.