Cnoc Chalmac

The walk up Cnoc Chalmac from Ballater is one of those Scottish hill outings that feels properly rewarding without requiring actual mountaineering skills. It's a modest peak by Highland standards, but that's rather the point - you get genuine views without spending eight hours trudging up scree.

From the summit you're looking across the Cairngorms and down into Deeside, which on a clear day beats most things you'll see from a sofa. The approach from Ballater itself is straightforward enough, taking you through woodland before opening onto the hill. Allow a couple of hours there and back if you're not dawdling, less if you're quick.

Families with older kids will manage this fine. Younger ones might find the pace a bit relentless, and there's no café at the top to sweeten the deal. But for anyone staying at Howe of Torbeg - which sits just a few miles away down the valley - it's an excellent morning's work that doesn't eat the whole day.

The best light is late afternoon in summer when the hills turn golden. Winter is trickier and demands proper boots; spring and autumn are honest answers. Go midweek if you can. Weekends bring enough people that the peace rather evaporates.

It's the sort of walk locals do without fuss and visitors often overlook, which probably means it's worth your time.