Adventures for all

A man pushes a woman in a wheelchair through a garden

Whether you’re after a five-minute meander or a multi-day marathon, here are some of our suggestions for the best places to enjoy a walk or a wander this summer.

For a short but sweet escape: Branklyn Garden, Perth

Not all outdoor excursions need to be challenging or lengthy. Branklyn Garden’s enchanting hillside garden is the perfect spot to enjoy a gentle and relaxing experience. Started in 1922 by John and Dorothy Renton, Branklyn Garden is over a century in the making and hosts sights and smells that even the most casual of plant lovers will admire.

The garden also offers several National Collections of plants, including Meconopsis, Himalayan blue poppies, rhododendron and Cassiope.

In summer, this combination of rare and exotic plants offers a chance to explore some of the world’s finest flora, all within walking distance of Perth city centre. In particular, the feathery purple Japanese maple transports you to an almost otherworldly place. You can find species from China, Tibet, Bhutan and the Himalayas.

Ready for refreshments? Then head over to the tearoom, in the main part of the house that once held the library. Here, and on the lawn, you can relax with tea served in a pot with tea cosies, created by team members at Branklyn. Enjoy a light lunch of soups, sandwiches, and the famous freshly-baked scones.

Remember that if you’re member, you can claim your free slice of birthday cake when the big day comes – perfect for a post-stroll treat.

More places to enjoy a gentle escape: Crarae Woodland Garden, House of Dun, Garden & Estate, Harmony Garden

Two women sit next to each other enjoying tea and cakes at an outdoor table in a garden

Visit the tearoom at Branklyn to enjoy a light lunch of soups, sandwiches, and the famous freshly-baked scones

For the young ones: Culzean Castle & Country Park, South Ayrshire

If using up some excess energy is your aim, where better than Culzean Castle & Country Park? Perched on the Ayrshire cliffside, this family favourite is popular for a reason. The magnificent castle offers a step back to the 18th century, while the sprawling grounds will tire out even the most energetic kiddos.

A quick walk will take young explorers to our Adventure Cove playpark near Swan Pond. The accessible playground is perfect for letting imaginations run wild as they discover treehouses, slides, climbing walls, mazes, and even a zip line. Older children can have their own adventures in the Wild Woodland playpark.

Culzean also offers a deer park, complete with llamas. If you need a mid-walk boost, head to the Aviary Ice Cream Parlour, or check out the Home Farm Kitchen for lunch.

Or, walk the three miles of cliffs, shores and sandy bays to get the full Culzean experience.

More fun time favourites: Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, Brodie Castle & Estate, Crathes Castle, Garden & Estate

A young girl crawls through netting in a playpark

Culzean’s Adventure Cove playpark will delight young explorers

For the wildlife explorers: Craigievar Castle, Aberdeenshire

You don’t have to travel deep into the countryside to come up close with interesting flora and fauna – some of our built heritage properties, like Craigievar Castle, in Aberdeenshire, are home to equally fascinating wildlife.

Reportedly, the inspiration for Walt Disney’s Cinderella, this bright pink castle sits in stark contrast to the Donside woodland that surrounds it. Walking along the marked trails through these undisturbed woods is a joy.

Roe deer live in abundance in the woodland. Females can be identified by their heart-shaped white tails, while males have soft velvet-wrapped antlers.

House martins make the pilgrimage to Scotland from Africa for our abundant summer insects and, in the warmest months, many can be seen swooping overhead. They nest in both the castle alcoves and in the specially erected tower ‘hotel’ in the meadow below the castle, the first of its kind to be built in Scotland.

If you’re keen to spot the house martins during your next visit, they are most easily identified through their stark white bibs and a jerky, acrobatic flight.

Elusive brown long-eared bats have also made their home at Craigievar. The rich insect life makes a perfect hunting ground for them on summer evenings. Find them by listening to their buzz-feeding in the earliest hours of dusk. Another shy species, the pine marten, is frequently caught on trail cameras in the evenings and scat on woodland paths is a sign they’ve recently been in the area.

More wildlife havens: St Abb’s Head National Nature Reserve, Dollar Glen, Threave Garden & Nature Reserve

A pine marten perches on a mossy rock. Its orange bib is clear against its dark brown fur.

For a challenge: Torridon, Scottish Highlands

If you enjoy a challenging day on the high tops, then there’s no better place to visit than Torridon. Some of Scotland’s magnificent Munros can be found in this hillwalkers’ paradise, and each will challenge your fitness, skills and endurance.

Beinn Alligin features two Munros – Tom na Gruagaich (922m) and Sgùrr Mòr (986m) – and is well known for its three distinctive ‘Horns’ which provide enjoyable scrambling options for the adventurous and agile. Those who take on a circuit of Alligin’s ridges will be treated to panoramas over Torridon and beyond, across to Skye on a clear day.

Nearby Liathach is one of Scotland’s most formidable mountains and among the most sublime. Also featuring two Munros – Spidean a’ Choire Leith (1055m) and Mullach an Raithain (1023m) – Liathach is often dubbed Scotland’s finest mountain, but it’s not for the faint-hearted. It’s worth hiring a mountain guide to make the most of Liathach’s exposed ridges, including the Am Fasarinen pinnacles.

This is also a remarkable place for flora and fauna, with part of the Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve on the Torridon estate, as well as one of the massif’s two Munros: Spidean Coire nan Clach. So, check the forecasts, tread softly, and respect this ancient landscape revered as much by ecologists and geologists as it is by walkers and climbers.

More adventures to be had: Goatfell, Ben Lawers National Nature Reserve, Balmacara Estate

The view over a mountain range from the peak of Torridon

Torridon | image: Nature Picture Library

For the wild campers: West Affric, Ross-shire

Want to well and truly escape into the wilds of Scotland this summer? West Affric may be the location for you. Offering an incredible place to wild camp, the vast landscape hosts a network of remote footpaths that immerse you in its natural beauty.

This stunning area offers visitors a range of walks through native, ancient forests, past breathtaking lochs and rugged moorland. Spot 4,000-year-old pine tree stumps nestled within the peatland, or the red deer that roam the estate.

If you do go wild camping at West Affric, ensure you’re equipped for the remote mountain environment, as the main paths involve crossing waterways. This is particularly difficult following heavy rain. The brave can even take a dip in the River Affric – which on a warm summer day can be a refreshing stop during a long hike.

Your efforts will be rewarded with the chance to spot rare black grouse, golden eagles, mountain hares and ptarmigan – as well as the infamous Scottish midge, which can be seen in abundance along with ticks and horse flies during the summer months.

Whether you go for the day or longer, make sure to leave no trace. Take all your rubbish with you, so you leave only footprints and take only memories to help preserve this breathtaking site for others.

More weekend-long escapes: Glencoe National Nature Reserve, Mar Lodge Estate National Nature Reserve, Kintail

For the history seekers: Ben Lomond, Stirlingshire

While Ben Lomond may be best known as one of Scotland’s most popular Munros, the hidden history trail that winds across its foothills offers a fascinating – and less strenuous – look into the mountain’s rich heritage.

Starting from the Ardess Lodge, this 1.5km trail offers an easy walk of around 45 minutes. Explore the 18th-century farmsteads and associated structures alongside the remains of a once-thriving rural community that dates back to at least the 13th century.

Locals once grew crops and grazed cattle, goats, and sheep here, nestled into the side of the mountain. Walkers are able to learn about the ancient people who once worked the land, where their stories are still etched into the ground they inhabited for generations.

Highlights include the Cruck Frame building, a reconstructed example of how buildings in the area may have looked, and The House by the Water – the original stone base of a building once used by the people who lived here and dating back to the mid-1600s.

Along the way, you can also see the remains of a longhouse – a common building which would have once housed both living quarters for people and a cattle byre.

And while the trail is more than enough to enthral the mind, the area is also rich with stunning Scottish wildlife. You may see red deer, buzzards, or even a golden eagle if you’re lucky.

More historic hikes: Culloden, Killiecrankie, Drum Castle, Garden & Estate

Ben Lomond | image: Owen McGuigan

We endeavour to make as many of our places as possible accessible for all visitors. For information on accessibility and what to expect during your visit, check our accessibility guide or the helpful Euan’s Guide.

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