Garries Corner

The walk into Garries Corner takes you through proper Perthshire countryside - open moorland that gives way to woodland as you drop down towards the reserve itself. It's a small pocket of protected land near Auchterarder, the sort of place you'd miss entirely if you weren't looking for it, but rewarding once you know it's there.

What you get is a chance to see native woodland and moorland habitat without the crowds you'd find at the bigger reserves. Bird watchers will find it worth their time - golden eagles and red kites do turn up here, though you need patience and decent binoculars. The walking is gentle rather than strenuous, making it fine for families with younger kids, though there's not much in the way of facilities or interpretation boards. Allow a couple of hours if you're stopping to watch wildlife; half an hour if you're just passing through.

The real appeal is how it slots into a caravan holiday in the area. Alexander House is barely two miles away and well-rated, so you could base yourself there and use Garries Corner as a morning outing before heading to somewhere like Gleneagles or into Perth. Broadslap Farm is another solid option just three and a half miles off. The reserve works best if you're already staying locally rather than driving out specially - it's the sort of stop that makes sense between other attractions, not a destination in itself.