Glen Tanar National Nature Reserve

The Dee Valley opens up properly once you push into Glen Tanar, where ancient Caledonian pine forest climbs the hillsides and red squirrels outnumber the visitors. This is one of Scotland's finest nature reserves, a sprawling estate near Aboyne where you can walk among trees that have stood for centuries, watching the river cut through granite gorges below.

Walkers will spend a solid half-day here easily - there are proper trails threading through the glen, some gentle riverside routes and others that climb into the hills with proper views across Aberdeenshire. The forest itself feels genuinely wild. You'll spot roe deer if you're quiet, and the pine marten sightings aren't rare either. Birdwatchers come for the capercaillie and golden eagles, though you need patience and luck in equal measure.

Families with younger children might find the immediate riverside walks manageable, though the real payoff comes if you're willing to trek further in. Teenagers who like nature won't be bored - it's genuine wilderness, not a manicured country park. There's something humbling about walking under those ancient pines.

The reserve sits perfectly between Firbank Park and Aboyne Loch Caravan Park if you're based in a caravan - either makes a logical jumping-off point for a morning or afternoon here. Most of the walking is free and open access, though it's worth checking conditions after heavy rain as paths can get boggy. Come in late spring or early autumn when the light through the trees is exceptional and midges are less murderous.