Wood of Cotwells

Walking through Wood of Cotwells is like stepping into the kind of forest you half-expect to find a gamekeeper round every corner. This Aberdeenshire woodland sits just outside Turriff and offers a proper stretch of legs through mature trees and forest paths - nothing fancy, but genuinely peaceful. The wood itself is mixed broadleaf and conifer, which means decent variety in what you're looking at season to season. Footpaths wind through without too much faffing about, making it accessible for most fitness levels, though the paths can get muddy when the weather's been wet. You're looking at anything from a quick 20-minute wander to a couple of hours if you explore the full extent.

It's the sort of place that works well for families who want their kids to burn off energy without needing a visitor centre or car park full of tour coaches. Dog walkers clearly use it regularly - worth knowing if you're planning to bring yours. The woodland sits well for anyone staying at the nearby glamping and caravan sites clustered round Shepherd's Loch and Greenwood Loch, which are barely a mile away. Rather than a destination on its own, think of it as the morning activity that justifies a night in the area before heading somewhere bigger like Moray or Royal Deeside.

Access appears to be free and unrestricted, though it's the sort of place where there's no formal facilities - no cafe, no shop, no visitor information. Go for the quiet. Go for the woodland itself. Don't expect anything else.