Balnacraig Hill

The walk up Balnacraig Hill rewards you with proper views across Aberdeenshire's rolling landscape - nothing dramatic, but genuinely worth the climb if you're staying in the area. From the summit, you get a clear sense of how the land rolls away toward the Highlands, and on a decent day the visibility stretches far enough to make sense of the geography around Tullochvenus.

It's a straightforward hill walk, not technically difficult, which makes it ideal for families who want a proper outing without the scrambling or exposure. Expect it to take you a couple of hours there and back depending on your pace and how long you linger at the top. The path itself isn't massively dramatic - you're walking through moorland and woodland - but that's part of the appeal if you're after something uncrowded.

The real value comes if you're already based at one of the caravan parks nearby. Aboyne Loch Caravan Park and Greenpark Leisure are both close enough that this makes a natural half-day excursion, particularly useful if the weather's decent and you need a break from sitting around camp. It's the sort of walk that fills a morning without dominating your day.

Bring proper footwear - the ground can be boggy - and check the weather before you head out. There's not much shelter once you're up there, so wind and mist can roll in quickly. If visibility is poor, the walk loses most of its appeal, so don't feel pressured to do it in ropey conditions.