Peppers Covert

A proper woodland walk through Peppers Covert means ducking under low branches and treading on soft forest floor for a good stretch of Aberdeenshire terrain. It's the sort of place that feels genuinely quiet - you'll hear the trees before you see many people. The forest itself is dense enough to offer real shelter from the Scottish weather, which matters when you're this far north.

History buffs might find the woodland itself unremarkable, but walkers absolutely will. It's the kind of covert that rewards a slow meander rather than a quick tick-box visit. Families with kids of walking age (seven or eight upwards) tend to get on well here - there's enough to spot and explore without needing a lot of structured entertainment. Expect damp underfoot even when it hasn't rained recently, so decent boots aren't optional.

Arbroath sits just a few miles down the road, so you're not isolated, but the drive up gives you proper Highland atmosphere. If you're staying at Dovecot Caravan Park or The Grange Glamping, this is exactly the sort of morning or afternoon mission that justifies the trip north. Two hours, maybe three if you're thorough, and you've had a solid day in Scottish woodland.

There's no fuss here - no visitor centre, no café, just trees and paths. That's rather the point. Go when the light's good and bring a flask. You won't regret the detour.