Moss Side Park

A quiet stretch of moorland and woodland just outside Nairn, Moss Side Park is the sort of place you wander into without expecting much and leave having found exactly what you needed. It's a proper nature reserve rather than a manicured park - rough grass, heather, and scattered pines that look like they've been there since forever.

The main draw is straightforward: walking. Trails wind through the reserve without the crowds you'd find at more famous Highland spots. Birdwatchers do well here - golden eagles aren't uncommon, and you'll spot red squirrels if you're quiet enough. The terrain is gentle enough for families with older kids, though pushchairs would struggle on the rougher sections. Allow an hour for a proper look around, more if you're the stopping-to-stare type.

It's the sort of place that works brilliantly if you're staying at Barrow Campsite Nairn nearby and want to get outside without driving halfway across the Highlands. You're never far from the coast either - useful to know when the weather turns.

Timing matters. Mornings are best for wildlife and avoiding the midges that can get properly fierce here in late summer. Spring brings migrating birds; autumn the heather in full bloom. Winter's fine too if you don't mind damp undergrowth and mud.

Free access and no visitor centre means there's an honest, unfussy feel to the place. Go if you want to actually see the Highlands rather than just photograph them from a car park.