Explorers Garden at Pitlochry Festival Theatre

The garden sits right next to Pitlochry Festival Theatre, and it's a proper tonic after sitting through a show - or before one, if you fancy clearing your head. It's not vast, but that's rather the point. You get these themed planting areas that actually tell a story about exploration and travel, which feels oddly apt given the theatre's location in the Highlands.

Walkers will appreciate it most, particularly those doing the bigger trails around Pitlochry who want something less strenuous for an hour. Children might find it a bit sedate unless they're already interested in plants and garden design. The real appeal is how it connects to the theatre itself - the whole setup works as a cultural breather, somewhere you can sit on a bench and watch the Tummel Valley while your legs recover.

It's free to wander around, and you can spend anything from thirty minutes to a couple of hours depending on whether you're just passing or actually reading the planting notes. Summer's obviously the best time, but even autumn colour here is worth a look.

If you're staying at Milton Of Fonab just down the road, it's genuinely a five-minute walk, making it ideal for a pre-dinner stroll. The proximity to Faskally Woods Holiday Park means you could easily combine it with woodland walking - the two balance each other nicely, one manicured and restful, the other wild and demanding.