Cairnmorris Hill

The walk up Cairnmorris Hill takes you from the village of Auchterarder into proper hill country, and the views back across Perthshire are worth every step. It's not a savage climb - maybe forty minutes to the top if you're moving steadily - but it rewards the effort with a proper panorama of the Ochil Hills rolling away in the distance.

What you get at the summit is straightforward but satisfying: a cairn, decent views, and the kind of quiet you don't often find this close to civilisation. On a clear day you can see for miles. Walkers will take to it immediately. It's the sort of peak that families with older children can manage without complaint, though younger kids might lose interest before the top if they're not keen hill-types.

The appeal lies in its accessibility combined with genuine hill-walking feel. You're not queueing for views or dodging crowds. Most people allow two hours round trip, which gives you time to sit at the top and actually look about instead of just bagging the summit and heading down.

If you're staying at Alexander House or Fossoway Cabins - both five to six miles away - this works as a proper day out without needing to travel far. Pair it with a wander through Auchterarder itself on the way back. The hill's free to access and there's no specific opening hours to worry about, though common sense applies: go in daylight, especially in winter when the days are brutal.