In 1908, inspired by her travels to Japan, Scottish adventurer Ella Christie created The Japanese Garden at Cowden. Ella referred to the seven-acre site as “the place of pleasure and delight”, and her great-niece has worked exhaustively to restore the gardens to their original glory. Open to the public in the summer months, visitors can take in the changing views of the Japanese stroll garden, explore the woodland walks and enjoy refreshments at the tearoom. Youngsters can stay entertained at the craft cabin, investigate the woodland trails or burn off some energy at the children’s adventure playground. If you do choose to break away from the serenity of the estate, Christie Lodge is the perfect base from which to explore this part of Clackmannanshire.

The small town of Dollar is just a 10-minute drive away, with a variety of delightful eateries, pubs and small shops. The history of the town is evident as you wander through its streets, with some of the oldest buildings dating back to the mid-17th century. You can find out more at the Dollar Museum (open weekends), which has a model railway as well as a number of interesting exhibitions. For the more adventurous, a circular route from the town takes you through the deep gorges, stunning waterfalls and towering trees of Dollar Glen up to the remarkably well-preserved, 500-year-old Castle Campbell, which stands in a prominent position on the south edge of the Ochil Hills. The hills stretch from the Firth of Tay all the way to Stirling, with Ben Cleuch being the highest and one of the most popular hill walks in the area. Starting from the village of Tillicoultry (6 miles), ascending from the south, the 700-metre climb is not for the faint-hearted but the breathtaking views from the summit provide a well-earned reward.

Venture further west just 16 miles and discover the bustling city of Stirling. Its relatively small size belies just how much there is to do. With an array of shops and restaurants, as well as a vibrant cultural scene, there really is something for everyone. If you’re craving a bit more history, Stirling Castle is well worth a visit, brought to life by costumed characters and excellent guided tours. If the climb to the top of Ben Cleuch isn’t to your fancy but you still want to experience amazing panoramic views, 246 steps will take you to the top of the National Wallace Monument. From here you can see across to the Forth Valley, Ben Lomond and the Trossachs, as well as the site of the famous Battle of Stirling Bridge.

Just over an hour by car to the east will take you to the coast. Slightly to the north of St Andrews (“the home of golf”), and just a 15-minute walk from the town centre, is West Sands Beach. Edged by the world-renowned golf course and stretching for almost two miles, this uninterrupted stretch of beach is famous for being where the opening scenes of the classic film Chariots of Fire were filmed. It’s a popular location for locals to “go for a dook” if you fancy joining them in a bit of wild swimming! It’s not much further south to explore the numerous quaint fishing villages that make up the East Neuk of Fife with their cobbled streets, brightly coloured houses and picturesque harbours — not to mention the delicious local seafood.