Gillarthur Wood

The woodland trails at Gillarthur Wood offer a proper escape from Dumfries town centre - just a short drive away and you're among native trees and forest paths that feel genuinely quiet. It's the sort of place where you can actually hear birdsong without someone's phone going off.

The wood itself is compact but dense enough that it doesn't feel rushed. Walking through here takes you past mature trees and along tracks that wind through the undergrowth. There's no visitor centre or facilities to speak of, so come prepared with water and decent footwear - the ground can be muddy even days after rain. Allow an hour or so for an easy ramble, longer if you're the sort who stops to look at lichen and identify birds.

It works well for families with older kids who've got past the "are we there yet" stage, and keen walkers will appreciate the peace. Littler ones might lose interest after thirty minutes unless they're the exploring type. The site is free and you can turn up whenever you like.

Stay at one of the nearby caravan sites - Criffel View or Landis Farm are just a couple of miles away - and Gillarthur Wood makes a low-key morning's activity before heading to bigger attractions. It's not Mabie Forest in terms of scale or facilities, but sometimes that's exactly the point. You get the forest without the crowds.