MacRosty Park

The woodland paths at MacRosty Park wind through genuine Perthshire terrain - proper mixed forest with enough space to actually breathe. It's a nature reserve rather than a manicured park, which means you get the real thing: mature trees, open glades, and the kind of quiet that only happens when you're properly away from it all.

The reserve sits just outside Crieff, making it an obvious morning walk if you're staying at one of the nearby holiday parks. Braidhaugh is practically on the doorstep - less than a mile away - so families at any of the caravan parks here can easily duck in for a couple of hours without much faffing about. The paths are generally well-maintained and suitable for reasonably confident walkers, though nothing too demanding.

Birders will find it worthwhile. The mix of deciduous and coniferous trees attracts a solid range of woodland species, and there are enough quiet spots to actually stand a chance of spotting something interesting if you're patient. It's also the sort of place where you won't feel crowded, even on decent weekends - the reserve's size means people spread out rather than bunching up on a single main path.

Go early if you want solitude, or save it for a wet afternoon when the light through the trees is particularly good. There's something about Perthshire woodland in autumn that's hard to beat. Free to access from what we can gather, though do check locally when you arrive in Crieff.