Berry Top

The walk up Berry Top isn't long, but it's proper steep in places. From Cookney, you're looking at a relatively straightforward hike that rewards you with views across Aberdeenshire - on a clear day you can see right across the Mearns farmland and towards the coast. The peak itself is modest by Scottish standards, but that's rather the point; it's an accessible afternoon out rather than a full expedition.

You'll get the most from this if you're staying at either Deeside Holiday Park or the Queen Elizabeth Park site near Stonehaven and want to stretch your legs without committing to a half-day adventure. Families with older kids will manage it fine. Younger ones might find the climb tedious, but the summit views are worth showing them.

Allow a couple of hours return, including time to actually stop and look around once you're up there. The ground can be boggy depending on rainfall, so decent boots aren't optional. There's no visitor facility or car park with facilities that I'm aware of, so come prepared.

It works well as part of a broader Aberdeenshire walking trip - it's the kind of peak you tick off between longer outings to the Cairngorms or walks around Stonehaven. Not dramatic enough to be a destination in itself, but genuinely pleasant if you're in the area and want something quick and local.