Forest bathing at Crathes Castle Estate

Crathes Castle sits in around 160 hectares of woodland, fields, formal gardens and ponds near Banchory, and the estate was once part of the Royal Forest of Drum. The National Trust for Scotland looks after it. Around the walled garden, with its yew hedges thought to date from as early as 1702, six waymarked trails head out into the woods, so there is plenty of room to get away from the castle crowds.

Start from the main car park and head away from the castle and the Wild Wood adventure play area; the longer trails are the quieter ones. Roe deer, red squirrels, woodpeckers, buzzards and herons are all seen on the estate, and there is a path down to a small lochan. The grounds are open from dawn to dusk, with the café and castle keeping shorter hours. The trails are clearly signposted, and there is a permanent orienteering course if you want a reason to wander.