Gallowhill Wood

The woodland around Moffat isn't going to take your breath away, but Gallowhill Wood offers a decent leg-stretch if you're camping nearby. It's a modest patch of forest - nothing you'd plan a weekend around, but fine for an hour's wander when the weather's decent and you've had enough of the caravan site.

The trees here are fairly standard Scottish lowland fare: a mix of conifers and broadleaf that provide proper shade on a sunny day. Walking trails wind through without any particular drama - no dramatic viewpoints or ancient monuments, just the sound of wind through the branches and the occasional bird. It's the sort of place where kids can run about without you losing sight of them, which counts for something.

Access appears to be free, and there's no real administration to worry about. Allow an hour if you're with young children, less if you're just after a quick circuit. The ground can get muddy after rain, so decent shoes make sense.

The real value here is proximity. Moffat Camping and Caravanning Club Site sits less than a mile away, and Howslack Farm is under two miles distant - meaning Gallowhill Wood works as an easy escape from the campsite when everyone needs fresh air and a stretch. Riverside Holiday Park is a similar short drive off. It won't rival proper forest walks elsewhere in Dumfries and Galloway, but for a rainy-day alternative or a quick morning constitutional, it does the job.