The Gruffalo Trail

The Gruffalo Trail winds through Culter Alley Wood near Stirling, a proper delight if you've got kids in tow - though honestly, even without them it's a decent woodland walk. The path follows the story from Julia Donaldson's book, with character cutouts dotted along the route to keep youngsters engaged. You're walking through mixed woodland with the kind of dappled light that makes everything feel a bit magical, even on a grey Scottish afternoon.

It's not a strenuous outing - the trail takes about an hour to complete depending on how often you stop for photos or to let kids examine every moss-covered stone. The woodland itself is genuinely nice, with streams and clearings that break up the trees. This works brilliantly as part of a broader Stirling visit rather than as a standalone attraction. It's close enough to Glasgow that you could base yourself at The WHW Hotel & Campsite and make it a morning activity before heading elsewhere.

Bring wellies. The ground gets properly boggy in places, especially after rain, and that's not an exaggeration. The trail is free, which is good value, though there's not much in the way of facilities - no café, no loos - so sort yourself out in Stirling first. Best visited outside school holidays if you want any peace, and aim for late spring or early autumn when the woodland's looking its best. Kids aged four to eight will probably find it engaging; older children might find it a bit slow.