Marketmuir Wood

A proper woodland walk through mixed forest and open glades, Marketmuir Wood sits just outside Garlogie in the heart of Aberdeenshire. The paths wind through dense pine and birch - it's the kind of place where you notice the smell of the forest floor after rain, and spot red squirrels if you're lucky enough. The wood itself is modest in scale, nothing that'll take all day, but that's rather the point. Allow a couple of hours for a gentle amble, longer if you fancy sitting still and just listening.

This works best for families wanting a low-pressure woodland stomp without needing boots for mud wrestling. Older kids who can manage uneven ground will get on fine. It's also worth a visit if you're after a proper nature break from the caravan sites - Silverbank and Greenpark Leisure are both within a few miles, making this a natural leg-stretch between pitches.

The wood is free to access and doesn't require booking. Timing-wise, early morning or late afternoon tends to be quieter. Spring brings bluebells; autumn offers decent colour. Winter's manageable if the paths aren't waterlogged, though ground can get boggy after heavy rain. There's nothing fancy here - no facilities, no café - which is exactly why locals rate it. It's the sort of place you visit because you actually want to be among the trees, not because someone's told you it's unmissable.