Cairn Plew

The walk up Cairn Plew demands respect but rewards you handsomely. This isn't a gentle stroll from Blairgowrie - it's a proper hill with teeth, rising sharply enough to make your calves complain but not so brutal that you'll need mountaineering gear. The views across Aberdeenshire open up as you climb, and on a clear day you can see all the way to the Cairngorms, which frankly makes the huffing and puffing worthwhile.

It's a peak for walkers with some stamina rather than casual ramblers. Families with older kids will manage it fine if they're used to hills, but toddlers will find it tedious. Most people allow two to three hours for the round trip depending on fitness, and you'll want proper boots - the terrain gets boggy and loose underfoot. Go in autumn or early spring for the best light and fewer midges.

For a park holiday based around Nethercraig, this sits nicely as a half-day outing. You're not far from Blairgowrie's cafes and shops if you fancy breakfast before heading out, which is sensible planning. The peak itself is free to climb, naturally - it's a Scottish hillside, not a theme park. The real cost is the leg work. Worth it though. The cairn at the summit is modest, but stand there with a thermos of proper tea and watch the light change across the highlands, and you'll understand why people walk hills in the first place.