Cairn Crome

The walk up Cairn Crome won't take all day, but the views across Aberdeenshire are worth the climb. It's a proper hill rather than a mountain - manageable for anyone with decent legs and an hour or so to spare. Keith sits nearby, and from up here you get a real sense of how the landscape rolls away toward the Highlands proper.

The summit itself is modest but gives you that satisfying feeling you've actually gone somewhere. On a clear day you can see for miles. On a grey one, which is honestly most days up here, you're wrapped in mist and it feels appropriately moody. The path is straightforward enough, though it can be boggy lower down depending on the weather.

Family groups with older kids will manage it fine. It's not the kind of peak that'll thrill serious hillwalkers - no scrambling, no real exposure - but it's an honest afternoon out. The real appeal is as part of a wider park holiday rather than a destination in itself. If you're staying at Hillside Havens just down the road, it's an excellent way to stretch your legs and get a feel for the Aberdeenshire landscape without committing to a full day's hiking.

Free to access, no facilities at the top. Bring waterproofs - the Scottish Highlands have a way of catching you out. Best in summer when the days are long and the bog slightly less treacherous.