Forest bathing at Cambus o’May

Cambus o'May is a Forestry and Land Scotland forest on the north side of the A93 between Ballater and Dinnet, in the Cairngorms National Park. It is classic Deeside country: pine, heather and blaeberry over ground shaped by glaciers, with an esker ridge and two small lochans tucked among the trees. Douglas firs stand over part of the walk to the lochans. It is a good place to sit by still water.

From the car park, the short Lochside Trail follows the top of the esker, the Two Lochans Trail goes a little further under the Douglas firs, and the Pine Tree Trail makes the longest loop through the pinewood. In summer dragonflies hunt over the lochans; in winter the views open up towards the mountains. There are picnic tables and a viewpoint but no toilets; the nearest are in Ballater and Aboyne. Fires and barbecues are banned from April to September.