While the temperature may have dipped in recent days, it is nonetheless a great time to head out and experience the natural beauty of Scotland.
So long as you wrap up warm, the cold weather can make everything look even prettier. After all, there's nothing quite like a frosty walk in the countryside.
If you're struggling to come up with ideas for where to head, Balloch Castle Country Park in West Dunbartonshire offers something a bit different. The only country park at Loch Lomond, the massive 200-acre park includes gardens, nature trails, and guided walks.
While you can't really go wrong with any of these walks, if it is something truly unique you're after then the Balloch Park Fairy Trail could be perfect for you.
This one-of-a-kind walk features a number of tree stumps that have been carved into weird and wonderful shapes. The whimsical trail will take you through the park as you search for all of the beautifully carved sculptures.
The stumps previously belonged to trees that were found to be diseased, and so needed to be felled. Rather than leave the stumps as they were, local tree surgeon Patrick Muir decided to carve fairy houses and other fantastical designs out of the wood.
Muir was inspired by his two young daughters to make the jump from cutting down diseased trees to chainsaw carving. The impressive sculptures soon gained the support of West Dunbartonshire Council, and together they created the Fairy Trail.
Today, all of the carvings have their own fictionalised backstory, making the trail a perfect outing for kids. Among the sculptures are 'The abandoned fairy house', 'Tree spirit', and 'Acorn and oak leaf'.
More information can be found on the West Dunbartonshire Council website.
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