Forest bathing at Old Wood of Drum

The Old Wood of Drum dates back to the twelfth century, when it was a royal hunting forest stretching from Peterculter to Banchory. Its oak went into ships and buildings, Drum Castle among them. Today it is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, cared for by the National Trust for Scotland, where dense stands of birch open out into woodland with grand old oaks, some from the 1700s. Red squirrels, bats and badgers live here.

From the castle car park, the Woodland Walk and the Drumhill Trail are each about a mile and take 20 to 40 minutes, but they are the sort of paths you can take much more slowly. Both are unsurfaced with some slopes and can be wet and slippery, so wear proper shoes. Near the castle, the arboretum and pinetum planted in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries hold giant redwoods, Monterey pines, Japanese cedars and silver firs, and give welcome shade on a warm day. The grounds open dawn to dusk.