Red Burn Memorial

The Red Burn flows through a quiet corner of Aberdeenshire that most tourists miss entirely. It's a nature reserve that rewards walkers rather than coach parties - the sort of place where you'll actually see roe deer if you go early and keep still.

The burn itself carves through wooded gorges with enough gradient to make it interesting without being brutal. You get proper woodland habitat here, which is rarer than you'd think in this part of the Highlands. Birch and pine dominate, and in spring the ground cover is worth photographing on its own. The memorial itself marks something of local significance, though the walk matters far more than standing around reading plaques.

Best for keen walkers and anyone serious about spotting wildlife. Kids might manage it if they're the type who enjoy clambering over rocks and spotting birds rather than needing a gift shop at the end. Allow two hours minimum if you're going to do it properly and not just dash the main path.

Inverurie sits just down the road, which makes this a solid half-day addition to a Deeside loop. The nearby Glamping Bothie is only 2.5 miles away - proper accommodation if you want to base yourself here for a few days of proper walking country.

Go in autumn when the light sits lower through the trees, or early summer before the midges get ambitious. It costs nothing and there's rarely a queue for the car park, which should tell you something about how unspoilt it remains.