Forest bathing at Glen Tanar

Glen Tanar is a National Nature Reserve of more than 1,300 hectares near Aboyne, inside the Cairngorms National Park, and its native Scots pinewood is the largest remnant on the south side of the Cairngorms. The forest is home to red squirrels, crested tits and crossbills, with capercaillie for the lucky. It is a working estate with a charitable trust that looks after visitors.

Walks start from the Braeloine car park, where there is a visitor centre with information on the estate's wildlife and toilets close by. Waymarked circuits use forest tracks and paths with no real climbs, including a long riverside section, so you can wander slowly without needing a map. Go a little further from the car park and it is very quiet. There is no public transport to the start.