Benaquhallie

The walk up Benaquhallie from Schoolhill takes you through proper Aberdeenshire moorland - the kind of landscape that makes you understand why people move here and never leave. It's not a difficult climb, but it's steep enough that you'll feel your legs working, and the payoff is a 360-degree view across the Dee valley that genuinely catches you off guard.

This is one for walkers who know what they're after rather than casual strollers. The peak itself is modest in height but sits in that sweet spot where you can see for miles without needing mountaineering skills. On a clear day you'll pick out the Cairngorms to the west, and the agricultural patchwork of Aberdeenshire spreads below you like a proper working landscape - not postcard perfect, but real.

Allow two hours for the round trip if you're taking your time with views and photographs. There's no visitor infrastructure up there, so bring water and something to eat. The moorland flowers are best in late summer, though honestly the walk has its own appeal whatever the season.

If you're staying at Haughton Holiday Park nearby, this makes a solid half-day excursion - far enough away to feel like an expedition, close enough that you're not spending all day in the car getting there. It's the sort of walk that clears your head without exhausting you, which is exactly what a park holiday needs.