Loch Wood

Walk into Loch Wood and you're immediately swallowed by proper old-growth forest - the kind where light struggles to reach the forest floor and the air smells of damp soil and rotting leaves. It's a working woodland near Stirling, so don't expect manicured paths and visitor centres. What you get instead are quiet trails threading through tall Scots pines and deciduous trees, with the water visible through the trees and the peace almost unsettling after you've driven in from Glasgow.

This is walkers' territory, frankly. Families with young kids might find it a bit underwhelming - there's nothing flashy to hold their attention beyond 45 minutes, and the paths aren't exactly pushchair-friendly. But if you're the sort who actually enjoys a woodland walk without attractions and crowds, you'll find it genuinely restorative. Bring decent boots because it gets muddy, especially after rain.

Given that Loch Wood sits relatively close to Duncan Family Farms and Endrick Escape - both glamping spots within six miles - it makes sense as a morning walk before heading back for brunch. Go early, ideally midweek, when you might see nothing but birds and the occasional dog-walker. Late autumn is best, when the canopy thins out and you can see further into the woodland. Free to visit, no facilities that I could find, and genuinely worth an hour of your time if you're camping nearby and fancy some proper forest air.