“The sun is shining!” Do you know what that means in Scotland? it means that people in the room turn to gaze through the window and say: “Ay! It is beautiful, isn’t it”.

On a sunny day Scotland is charming. That is the time to go outside and take a wee walk. Right next to Stirling there is a small town called Bridge of Allan. It is an old spa town but there are no spas to be seen. However, the town has a space perfect for relaxation – the relaxation of the mind. The soft hills behind the town are covered with parks and forests. They provide a calm green space and offer a break from the traffic, noise and stress. You don’t have to go far, you don’t have to stay long, and you don’t have to pay a penny for it.

The woody area has several sections: Mine Woods, Mid Woods and Low Woods. Maybe there are more to be found if you explore the area very carefully. The Mine Woods is a popular area for locals to take their dogs for a walk or trainers for a run. In the midst of the woods there is an old disused Wolf’s Hole Quarry where local climbers go bouldering. These high rocky walls offer a great place for a fun vertical exercise.

The easiest way to get up to the woods is from the far end of the Bridge of Allan. Nearby the train station, before crossing the bridge, there is a stone fence on your right hand side. In that fence, there is a gap that takes you to a path. The path starts climbing the hill through the woods. Soon there is a sign welcoming you to the Mid Woods. Then it is up to you, where you want to go. You can follow the main path and end up to the park. Cross the park to the Wolf’s Quarry and head to the Mid Woods and check out the golf course which is on the other side of the woods. When you decide to leave the  woods you’ll get to walk on the streets of a little wealthier neighbourhood. Large Victorian houses and their high stone walls with iron fences are almost as interesting as the woods itself. Those houses live on the hills above the town, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere.

Definitely a good way to get some fresh air and enjoy the Scottish nature. Mind me, it is a thing to do on a sunny day, and autumn in Scotland is no autumn in Hawaii. If you say “the sun is shining” in Hawaii, the people will look at you: “I know. It always is”.