Ben Skievie

The walk up Ben Skievie catches most people off guard - it's not a mountaineer's project, but it's far from a gentle amble either. Starting from near Pitlochry, you're looking at a proper hill walk with real elevation gain and enough scrambling to keep things interesting without needing ropes or serious climbing experience.

What makes it worthwhile is the view from the top. On a clear day - and you'll want to pick one of those - you get sweeping perspectives across Perthshire that justify the effort. The Highlands roll out in layers, and if you've caught decent weather, you can see for miles. The walk takes a couple of hours up, maybe ninety minutes down if your knees are cooperating.

It's the sort of walk that rewards fit families with older kids and regular hikers, though casual walkers might find the steeper sections a bit much. Allow a full half-day if you're not moving quickly. The path itself is reasonably well-trodden, though you'll want proper boots rather than trainers - it gets muddy and rocky in patches.

If you're based at Milton Of Fonab Caravan Park just outside Pitlochry, this is genuinely worth the drive for a morning or afternoon out. It's the kind of walk that sits perfectly between "proper achievement" and "not requiring mountaineering skills", which is exactly what most holiday walkers are after. Weather permitting, it's a solid half-day in the Perthshire hills.