'Wee Widdie'

The Wee Widdie is a small forest patch near Keith in Aberdeenshire, the sort of place locals know about but tourists stumble upon by accident. It's not vast - you can walk through it properly in under an hour - but it delivers the kind of quiet woodland experience that feels proper restorative after a spell on the road.

You get forest paths, a bit of shelter from the wind, and the sense you've actually wandered somewhere rather than ticked off a sight. The trees are dense enough to feel like genuine escape, which matters when you're touring the Scottish Highlands and hitting the bigger attractions. Walkers will find it a pleasant addition to a day out; families with younger kids won't get bored, though it's not a destination on its own. Older children might find the walk a bit tame.

There's no visitor centre or facilities to speak of - this is straightforward woodland, free to access, and you can spend as little or as much time here as suits. It works well as a break between other activities rather than a reason to plan your entire afternoon. The nearest town, Keith, gives you somewhere to grab a coffee beforehand.

If you're staying at Hillhead Hideaways just up the road - five-star rated, about two miles away - the Wee Widdie makes a natural morning stroll. Same goes for Cairnty Lodges if you've booked one of their glamping pods. It's the sort of quiet corner that reminds you why the Highlands are worth visiting in the first place, even if it's not the sort of place you'll be raving about for months.