Hulton Wood

The woodland around Hulton Wood is proper quiet - the kind of place where you actually hear birds instead of your own breathing. It's a modest forest spread near Thornhill, nothing dramatic, but worthwhile if you're after a gentle walk away from the main tourist drag.

You're looking at woodland trails through mixed trees, the sort of terrain that suits families with young kids or anyone wanting a couple of hours away from the caravan site. The paths aren't challenging, which means you won't spend the afternoon cursing steep gradients. Locals use it regularly, which is always a good sign - means the trails are maintained and people genuinely enjoy being there rather than just visiting for the photos.

Stay at Penpont Holiday Park just down the road (less than two miles away) and you can be threading through the trees in ten minutes. Red Squirrel Campsite is further out but still handy if you're making a circuit of the area. Either way, Hulton Wood works as a leg-stretcher between other activities rather than a full day out.

Timing-wise, allow an hour or so for a decent wander. The light's best in late morning, and the place clears out by late afternoon, which is when it feels most peaceful. Worth knowing: bring decent shoes if it's been rainy - woodland ground gets boggy fast in Dumfries and Galloway.