Friockheim Park

The walk into Friockheim Park from nearby Arbroath takes you through proper countryside - fields giving way to woodland that feels genuinely remote even though you're never far from civilisation. It's a nature reserve rather than a manicured park, which means overgrown paths, the occasional boggy patch, and the reward of actually spotting wildlife rather than just statues.

What you're really here for are the birds and the quietness. In spring and early summer, the place absolutely sings - warblers, redstarts, the occasional buzzard circling overhead. Walkers absolutely get their money's worth from the various looping trails, none of them particularly arduous, all of them rewarding. Families with young kids might find the going a bit slow through dense sections, but older children who can manage muddy boots will love the discovery element.

There's no visitor centre or facilities to speak of, which is precisely the appeal. Bring a decent pair of wellies, a bird guide if you're keen, and time to actually stop and listen rather than power through. Allow two to three hours to do it justice without rushing.

If you're basing yourself at The Grange Glamping just down the road, this is your morning or afternoon slot sorted - genuinely wild walking that doesn't require a car journey. It's the kind of place that works best outside peak season when you've actually got a chance of hearing the birds over the school groups.