Beinn a' Chait

The walk up Beinn a' Chait from Pitlochry is one of those Scottish hill outings that punches well above its weight. It's not a brutal slog - the summit sits at around 2,300 feet - but the views across Perthshire pay proper dividends for the effort. You get glorious drop-downs to the Tummel Valley, Ben Vrackie dominating the skyline, and on a clear day the Cairngorms pushing through the haze. Most folk reckon two to three hours round trip, though that depends on your legs and how many times you stop to gawp at the scenery.

This is walker territory, plain and simple. Families with confident hillgoers will manage it fine; very young children might find the steeper sections tedious. The path is well-trodden and straightforward enough, though Scottish weather can turn it into a bog without warning, so waterproofs aren't optional. Spring through autumn is the sweet spot - winter brings snow and ice that demands proper kit.

It's free, obviously, being a Scottish hill. What makes Beinn a' Chait work so well is its location next to Pitlochry itself. You can base yourself at Blair Castle Caravan Park just five miles south and treat this as a morning climb while the weather holds, then potter around the town for afternoon coffee or browse the whisky distillery. Real value for a Perthshire break - proper hill without the logistical faff of tackling the bigger ranges.