Kittlenaked Wood

The forest floor at Kittlenaked Wood is thick with moss and fallen branches - the kind of woodland you'd expect to find deeper in the Highlands, not a short drive from Anstruther's fish and chip shops. It's a proper working forest, not some manicured nature reserve, which means you get actual wildness rather than a nature trail with laminated information boards.

Walking through here works best if you're after peace and quiet rather than dramatic vistas. The trees are tall enough to shut out most of the world, and on a midweek afternoon you might not see another soul. It's the sort of place where you can actually hear yourself think - rare these days. Allow a couple of hours if you want to properly wander without rushing.

Families with young kids might find it a bit samey after forty minutes or so. There's no obvious "destination" within the wood, no viewpoint or clearings to aim for, just the rhythm of walking between trees. But for serious walkers or anyone who just needs to disappear into the green for a bit, it's exactly what you want.

If you're basing yourself at Off the Track or Sauchope Links, this makes a solid morning or afternoon excursion without eating into your holiday time. The drive from either site is painless. Free to access, naturally - it's a working forest, not a visitor attraction with a car park attendant. Go before mid-morning if you want any chance of solitude.