Baderonach Hill

The walk up Baderonach Hill from Aboyne takes about forty minutes if you're reasonably fit, and the reward is a proper Highland perspective across Deeside. You're not climbing Ben Nevis here - it's more of a brisk hill walk than a serious scramble - but that's precisely why it works well for a mixed-ability group.

The summit gives you wide views across the valley towards Cairngorms National Park, and on a clear day you can see well beyond Aboyne itself. It's the kind of spot where you actually feel like you've earned a sandwich and a flask of tea. The path is straightforward enough, though it can be boggy in places after rain, so decent boots are non-negotiable.

Families with children aged eight or so upwards will manage this comfortably. Younger kids might find it tedious. The ascent isn't technical, but it is relentless - there's nowhere to sit and chat halfway up, so you need people who'll actually walk rather than dawdle.

If you're staying at Tarland Camping & Caravanning Club Site just down the road, this makes for an excellent morning mission before breakfast. The Cairngorms Glamping & Campsite is equally well-placed. Allow two hours round trip at an easy pace, or ninety minutes if you know what you're doing. No facilities on the hill itself, so bring water. Best tackled on a windless day - exposure gets exaggerated on hillsides.