Dunnottar Woods

The woodland walk down to Dunnottar Woods from Stonehaven is genuinely worth your time, though you'll want sturdy boots and the weather forecast on your side. The path drops steeply through ancient pinewood before opening out onto a dramatic stretch of coastline where red-stone cliffs meet the North Sea. The woods themselves are quiet - properly quiet - with the kind of light that makes you understand why people bang on about Scottish landscapes.

This isn't a manicured visitor experience. There are no loos, no tea van, no interpretation boards. You get forest, you get views, you get the sound of waves. It suits walkers far more than families with small children - the descent is challenging enough that toddlers will slow progress to a crawl, and there's genuinely nothing to do once you're down there except stand and stare. Which, mind, is precisely the point.

The nearest proper town is Stonehaven, just 1.6 miles away, and if you're staying at one of the caravan parks - Stonehaven Queen Elizabeth Park runs at 5 stars and is practically on your doorstep - you can knock this walk out in an afternoon without too much faffing about. Upper Crawton Park and Cloak Caravan Park are also within a short drive. It's free, take as long as you want, and go on a clear day if at all possible. The cloud rolls in fast here and the magic evaporates.