Ben Rinnes

The walk up Ben Rinnes takes roughly three hours from the car park near Keith, and it's one of those Scottish hills that rewards you properly without demanding mountaineering skills. The summit sits at 2,755 feet, which means proper views across the Moray Firth and down into Speyside whisky country if the weather plays ball.

Start early. The path is well-trodden and relatively straightforward, though it gets steep near the top and the ground can be boggy in places. On a clear day you'll spot the Cairngorms to the south and the coast beyond Inverness. When it's cloudy - which is often enough - you get that moody Highland atmosphere that makes for decent photos regardless.

This is genuinely good for hillwalkers who want something achievable in a morning or early afternoon. Family groups with teenagers will manage it fine, though younger kids might find three hours tedious. The mountain itself doesn't have facilities or ruins to poke about in; it's purely about the walk and the views. Allow half a day including the drive from Keith.

If you're basing yourself at Hillside Havens nearby, Ben Rinnes works as a solid half-day excursion between exploring the distilleries that cluster around Dufftown and Keith. It's also straightforward enough that you won't feel guilty taking it easy the next day. Worth doing if you're in the area and the forecast looks decent.