Berry Hill

The walk up Berry Hill from Banchory takes you through proper Deeside countryside, with the River Dee winding below and Aberdeenshire's granite hills pressing in from all sides. It's not a brutal ascent - maybe forty minutes from the town - but the views at the top are worth every step. On a clear day you're looking across to Lochnagar and the Cairngorms beyond, which alone justifies the effort.

This is one for walkers rather than casual strollers. The path itself is fine, but there's real climbing involved and the ground can be boggy after rain. Most people allow an hour and a half for the round trip, which gives you time to sit about and actually take in the landscape instead of just bagging the peak and heading back down.

If you're staying at Silverbank or Banchory Lodge - both excellent campsites within spitting distance - this makes a cracking morning walk before the weather turns. Spring and autumn are your best bets; summer midges can be grim, and winter demands proper kit. The nearest town is Banchory itself, which has a decent tea shop if you need to refuel afterward.

Free to visit, naturally. Allow three hours if you're not a fast walker, less if you are. Kids aged eight and up will manage it without complaint, though younger ones might find it tedious. The payoff is genuine though - a proper Scottish hilltop without needing to venture miles into the wilderness.