Black Hill

The walk up Black Hill from Huntly rewards you with proper views across Aberdeenshire - moorland stretching to the horizon, rolling farmland falling away below, and on clear days you'll spot the Grampians beyond. It's not a mountain, more of a substantial hill, but that's precisely why it works so well as a morning outing without the slog.

The approach is straightforward enough. Local knowledge helps - you'll find folk parking near the forestry tracks on the south side and heading up through mixed woodland before breaking onto open moorland. The whole thing takes roughly two hours there and back, depending on your pace and whether you stop to take in the view properly. There's no visitor centre or facilities at the top, so bring what you need.

Walkers will find this genuinely worthwhile, especially if you're based at one of the nearby parks like Greencraig Pods or Hillhead Hideaways. The terrain can be boggy in places - proper walking boots are essential, not trainers. Families with older kids will manage fine; younger ones might flag on the moorland stretch where there's little shade.

Go early in the day if you can. Afternoon mist rolls in quickly up here, which kills the views entirely. Summer is best, though spring gives you good visibility too. It's free, obviously - just a hill - and fits nicely into a Huntly-based holiday without eating your whole day. The nearby castle and town pubs make for decent bookends to the walk.