Holiday rentals in Craik Forest

With 16 square miles of untouched wilderness spreading in every direction, there’s little in Craik Forest to remind you of the busy world outside. Set in Scotland’s quiet southern uplands, not far from the border with England, this land was once walked by the Romans, and one of the many trails through the forest allows you to follow in their footsteps, along the traces of the road they built here. The woods are a glorious haven for wildlife — look out for birds, bats, toads, and red squirrels — but the most impressive living creatures are the trees that tower around you. Spruce, fir, larch, willow, rowan, some of them more than a century old, rise majestically from the moss-covered ground, with the crystal-clear waters of the Aithouse Burn running prettily among them. And if you prefer to move through them a little faster, there are two mountain bike routes through the forest, too.

The southern borderlands don’t get quite as chilly as some of Scotland’s more northerly locations, but it can still be pretty nippy here in the winter. And while the forest is open year round, and its trails are usually passable in any weather, it’s probably best enjoyed between spring and autumn, when the changing seasons and colours show it off and the wildlife is on the move. The burn is especially lovely in spring, while temperatures are at their warmest between June and August, which coincides with midge season, so be sure to pack repellent or nets if they bother you. There’s a lovely freshness to the forest in autumn, and many of the trees here are evergreens.

Wolfcleuch Waterfall

The rambling Aithouse Burn may not seem much more than a stream in places, but if you follow it (there’s a marked walk to guide you), you’ll come to a hidden glen where it gathers in surprising force. The waterfall is an impressive and unexpected sight in the middle of the otherwise peaceful forest.

Crib Law

There’s a separate trail that will take you up this 509-metre summit, where you emerge from the trees to panoramic views of the surrounding forest. The downward trail will bring you past a small waterfall where the burn flows towards Borthwick Water.

Castle O’er Forest

If you just can’t get enough conifers, consider driving 30 miles south to this neighbouring forest. It includes an impressive Iron Age hill fort that was excavated in the late 19th century; some of the artefacts found there are now on display at the Dumfries Museum.