Wood Of Ordiequish Carpark

There's a small car park tucked into the Wood of Ordiequish, just outside Keith in Aberdeenshire, that serves as the starting point for some genuinely lovely woodland walking. It's nothing fancy - just a practical spot where you can leave the car and head into the trees - but that's rather the point. The woodland itself is proper Highlands material: dense enough to feel like proper forest, with decent paths winding through and the kind of quiet you don't get often.

Walkers will find the most value here. It's not a destination in itself, more a launching pad for exploring the surrounding woodland and moorland. You could easily spend two or three hours roaming, depending on your fitness and how much you fancy wandering off the beaten track. The paths are manageable for most abilities, though it can get muddy after rain - which, let's be fair, is most of the time up here.

If you're staying at Hillhead Hideaways just 3.4 miles away, this makes for an excellent half-day excursion. Same goes for Greencraig Pods at 6.2 miles - you could combine it with exploring Keith itself without eating up too much of your holiday. Best visited in dry spells if you've got young kids; the novelty of mud wears thin quickly when you're carrying a toddler back to the car.

Free to use, naturally. No fancy visitor centre or amenities, which keeps it refreshingly simple.