Muir of Miltonduff

The Muir of Miltonduff is a sprawling forest that rolls across the landscape near Forres with the kind of quiet that makes you forget there's a world beyond the trees. It's proper woodland - the sort of place where you can actually hear birdsong and your own footsteps on the forest floor without any background hum of traffic.

Walking here is straightforward. There are established tracks winding through the conifers and mixed woodland, and the terrain won't punish you for being slightly unfit. You'll get decent views across the Speyside area if you push to the higher sections, and on a clear day it's worth the effort. The forest itself is working woodland rather than a manicured visitor attraction, which means it feels genuine - muddy in places, sometimes a bit overgrown, but all the better for it.

Walkers will get the most from this. It's not a destination for a quick twenty-minute stroll - you need at least a couple of hours to make it worthwhile. Families with kids who can manage uneven ground will enjoy it, though there aren't facilities here, so come prepared. The nearest proper base is Forres, which takes about twenty minutes to drive from the forest entrance.

If you're camping at The Loft Glamping & Camping just down the road, this makes a solid day out. It's free to walk, and there's no entry fee or opening hours nonsense to worry about. Come in late spring or autumn when the midges aren't at their worst.