Forest bathing at Culzean Castle and Country Park

Culzean Castle and Country Park is a 260-hectare estate on the Carrick coast, run by the National Trust for Scotland. Alongside the castle, formal gardens, glasshouses and around 40 buildings and follies, the park is planted with conifers and beech, with woods, parkland, the Deer Park and Swan Pond running down to cliffs and miles of sandy shore with caves.

The Home Farm, the castle, the cafés and the Adventure Cove and Wild Woodland play parks are the busy hubs, so the woodland paths between them are where to go for quieter time. Swan Pond, with its own café, makes a natural point to aim for through the trees, and you can mix woods and shore in the same walk. The country park keeps set opening hours, and there are entry charges, with free entry for Trust members. Allow a good half day; there is far more here than one walk covers.