Springfield Rose Garden

You'll find yourself wandering through about two acres of properly tended rose beds just outside Arbroath, where the Scottish air does something rather lovely to blooms that should theoretically struggle at this latitude. The Springfield Rose Garden is exactly what it says on the tin - rows and rows of roses in various stages of flower, colour-coded in a way that satisfies the sort of person who enjoys order alongside beauty.

It's the kind of place that rewards a slow morning rather than a rushed afternoon visit. Peak season (June through August, realistically) is when you'll get the full effect - hundreds of varieties in flower at once. Outside that window, you're looking at sparse pickings and a lot of bare stems. Bring a camera if you're into that sort of thing; the light here is particularly good on overcast days, which Aberdeenshire hands you plenty of.

Historically minded visitors will appreciate the heritage rose collection tucked away in one corner - older varieties that show up in Victorian gardens and the like. It's not Kew, but it's honest work and well-maintained. The walk itself is gentle, manageable for anyone not keen on serious hiking, though the paths can get muddy after rain.

If you're based at The Grange Glamping just up the road, this makes a decent morning outing before heading to the coast at Arbroath itself. Allow an hour if you're wandering aimlessly, forty minutes if you know what you're after. Bring a notebook if you're the type who notes down varieties worth growing at home. Admission details are thin on the ground, so phone ahead to check current opening hours and whether they're taking visitors.