Carn na Craoibhe Seileich

The walk up Carn na Craoibhe Seileich is a proper Cairngorms experience without needing technical climbing skills or all-day stamina. Starting from near Ballater, you're looking at a Scottish hill that rewards the effort with views across the Dee valley that make the leg-ache worth it. The path is straightforward enough, though it's steep in places and the moorland can be boggy after rain - waterproof boots aren't optional here.

Most walkers allow around three to four hours for the round trip, depending on fitness and how often you stop to catch your breath and admire the landscape. It's not Munro-level famous, which works in your favour. You won't be queuing for summit selfies. The actual summit is a bit sparse - no shelter, no café - but that's rather the point. You came for the solitude and the view, and you'll get both.

Families with confident walkers aged ten and up can manage it fine. History buffs get nothing much at the top itself, but the Deeside region is loaded with royal connections if you're stopping in the area. Braemar Caravan Park sits just a few miles away and makes a solid base for tackling this and similar peaks in the Cairngorms. Go midweek if possible - weekends bring out every hill-walker within fifty miles. Spring through early autumn is your window; winter transforms it into something altogether more serious.