Cloch Hill

The walk up Cloch Hill rewards you with views across Aberdeenshire that stretch all the way to the coast near Montrose. It's not a dramatic peak - more of a steady climb through moorland - but that's rather the point. You get proper Highland scenery without the Alpine theatre.

The approach is straightforward enough, taking roughly an hour to reach the top depending on your pace and where you've parked. The summit itself is modest but the 360-degree views make it worthwhile. On a clear day you can pick out the Grampians to the west and the North Sea glinting to the east. The kind of walk that feels bigger than its actual height.

This is walkers' territory rather than a tourist spectacle. Families with older kids will manage it fine, though younger ones might find the moorland stretch a bit relentless without much to break it up. There's no visitor centre, no cafe, no facilities - just the hill itself.

If you're staying at St Cyrus Holiday Park nearby, it's an excellent half-day outing that fits naturally into a week exploring Aberdeenshire. The drive to the start point is short, leaving you the rest of the day for coastal walks around Montrose or exploring the quieter corners of the Highlands. Go early if you can - cloud tends to roll in by afternoon, even when the forecast looks promising.