Clais Gàrbh

The view from Clais Gàrbh stops you cold. This isn't a gentle stroll up to a viewpoint - it's a proper hill walk that demands respect, but the Cairngorms sprawl below you in layers of purple and grey once you've earned it. The peak sits in the heart of the Scottish Highlands, a few miles south of Grantown-on-Spey, and rewards walkers with one of those rare panoramas that actually lives up to the effort.

It's a ridge walk rather than a single destination, and that's where it gets interesting. The landscape shifts as you move along the ridgeline - moorland gives way to rocky outcrops, and on a clear day you'll pick out Ben Macdui and the broader Cairngorms massif. Expect two to three hours out and back depending on fitness and how long you linger taking photographs. The path itself is well-trodden but properly mountain terrain - not a ramble.

Historically minded walkers and serious hikers will get the most from this. It's not a place for young children or anyone after an easy afternoon. The weather changes fast up here, so come prepared - visibility can vanish in minutes even when the valley floor looks fine.

If you're staying at Grantown on Spey Caravan Park nearby, this is an excellent day out that doesn't require driving far. There's no café at the summit, no visitor centre, just the hills doing what they do best. That's rather the point. Free to access, best in spring through autumn when conditions allow.