Arnbarrow Hill

The walk up Arnbarrow Hill isn't going to break a sweat, but that's rather the point. It's an accessible peak near Banchory that gives you proper views over Aberdeenshire without requiring fell-running fitness or technical gear. You get the landscape spread out below - rolling farmland, the River Dee threading through it, and on a clear day the Cairngorms rising away to the west.

The climb takes around an hour at a leisurely pace, which makes it ideal for families with reasonably mobile kids or anyone wanting a gentle hill day without the commitment of something like Mount Lochnagar. The path is straightforward. No scrambling, no navigation headaches. At the top there's a trig point and enough room to sit about and eat a sandwich without feeling rushed.

It works brilliantly as part of a longer stay in the area. If you're based at Royal Arch Riverside Park or Glen Dye Cabins, both just a few miles away, this is the sort of thing you'd do mid-week when you can't face a full Highland adventure. Fit it in before lunch, grab something in Banchory afterwards. The light is best in late afternoon if you want decent photographs, though the midges can be a bit much in high summer - go in spring or autumn if you're sensitive.

Worth the detour? Only if you're already in Deeside. Don't travel specially for it. But if you're doing a Grampian loop, it's a solid hour well spent.