Pitmedden Park

The walk round Pitmedden is a proper dose of proper Scottish countryside without the tourist crush. You get 100 acres of mixed woodland and open ground that slopes down towards the Ythan, and on a clear day you can see right across the valley from the higher paths. It's the kind of place where you notice things - birch trees bending over the water, red squirrels if you're lucky, the occasional roe deer bolting through the bracken.

Walkers will find this genuinely worthwhile. The terrain isn't demanding, but it's engaging enough to hold your attention for a couple of hours. You can do a shorter loop if the weather turns, or push on for the full circuit. Birdwatchers should come early, especially in spring and autumn - the reserve punches above its weight for sightings along this stretch of the Ythan.

Families with older kids will get more from it than those with pushchairs, simply because the paths get muddy and uneven in places. It's free to visit and there's parking on site, though it's modest so go mid-week if you can. Ellon, just four miles south, has cafés and shops if you need to sort supplies before or after.

If you're staying at Ythan Valley Campsite nearby, this is an obvious morning out. It won't blow your mind, but it's genuine Aberdeenshire without the fuss, and that's worth the trip.