Boath Hill

Boath Hill rises up from the Aberdeenshire landscape like a proper little sentinel, with views that stretch across to the Cairngorms on a clear day. It's not a long walk - maybe forty minutes up from the car park - but the gradient's steep enough to keep you honest. The summit's bare and windswept, which means bugger all shelter, but also means nothing blocking the view. From up there you can see right across the Mearns towards Forfar, and on a good day the visibility's genuinely impressive for a hill this modest in height.

Walkers will get the most from this one. It's the sort of peak that rewards you without demanding hours of your time, which is perfect if you're staying locally and fancy a proper stretch of the legs without committing to a full day's expedition. Families with older kids can manage it fine, though younger ones might grumble about the steepness. Go in summer or early autumn when the weather's at least predictable - winter brings a proper wind tunnel up top.

If you're based at Greenhillock Glamping nearby, this makes an excellent morning objective before heading off elsewhere. You're looking at maybe ninety minutes round trip including time on the summit to catch your breath and admire the view. Free to visit, obviously - just park sensibly and watch for the bog on the lower slopes after rain.