Thornton Birchwood

Thornton Birchwood is a proper working forest rather than a manicured visitor attraction, which is exactly what makes it worth your time. The birch trees dominate - silvery trunks against a dark understory - and there's something genuinely peaceful about walking through them instead of fighting crowds at more famous spots. You're looking at a mix of native woodland and managed forestry here, the sort of place where you actually hear birdsong rather than car parks.

Walkers will get the most from this one. There are decent tracks threading through, nothing too demanding, and the paths are muddy in places but manageable year-round. Bring proper boots though - it's Aberdeenshire, and underfoot can be squelchy. Allow a couple of hours if you're not rushing, longer if you fancy stopping to actually sit and breathe. Families with youngish kids might find an hour enough before restlessness sets in, but school-age children who like exploring will disappear into the trees happily enough.

It's free to wander, which is the best kind of free. The nearest town is Laurencekirk, about five miles south, so you could pop into town first for supplies or lunch. If you're staying at St Cyrus Holiday Park down the road, this makes a solid morning or afternoon outing - close enough not to be faffy but far enough to feel like proper escape. Winter's actually lovely here when the light's low and everything's quieter. Summer can get buggy near damp patches, so time it accordingly.