Cairn Hill

The walk up Cairn Hill rewards you with views that stretch across Perthshire's rolling landscape - nothing complicated, nothing pretentious, just a proper hillside that takes an hour or so to climb from the Blairgowrie side. The summit itself isn't dramatic, but on a clear day you'll see why locals keep coming back. It's the sort of place where walkers outnumber tourists, and that's exactly the appeal.

The ascent is steady rather than brutal. You're climbing through moorland and scattered woodland, and the path is well-trodden enough that you won't get lost. Families with teenage legs will manage it fine. Younger kids might find the hour-long haul tedious unless they're keen walkers already. The real payoff is reaching the top - there's a cairn, naturally - and knowing you've earned the view without needing technical kit or a full day of your holiday.

Blairgowrie sits close enough that you could easily base yourself at Glenshee Glamping or Nethercraig Holiday Park and slot this in as a morning activity. Both sit within a few miles, so no lengthy drive required. Go when the midges aren't at their worst - spring or autumn work well. The hill itself is free, always open, and demands nothing from you except decent footwear and forty minutes of effort. It's not the most famous peak in the region, but that's rather the point.