Coiliochbhar Hill

The walk up Coiliochbhar Hill takes you out of Bithnie and into proper Aberdeenshire moorland - rolling, open, and genuinely quiet. It's not a dramatic peak; there's no sudden drama at the summit, no sweeping vista that makes you catch your breath. What you get instead is the kind of walk that rewards your legs rather than your Instagram feed.

The hill itself is modest by Scottish standards, but that's rather the point. You're walking through heather and rough grass with the Grampians in the distance, and on a clear day you can pick out Lochnagar way off to the west. The track is straightforward enough - farmer's path mostly - so it suits families who've got kids with decent stamina, or anyone after a quiet afternoon ramble without the crowds you'd get on Ben Nevis.

Allow yourself two to three hours there and back, depending on fitness and whether you stop to eat a sandwich at the top. It's the kind of walk that costs nothing and demands no planning beyond decent boots and a weather check. Go in spring when the light's sharp, or autumn when the bracken turns gold - summer can feel a bit drab up here.

If you're based at Haughton Holiday Park just down the road, this makes a perfect half-day outing. It's close enough that you won't spend your whole afternoon driving, but far enough away that you'll feel properly released from the caravan site. The park itself is well-rated, which means you'll have a decent base for exploring the wider area - though frankly, this walk alone makes the trip worthwhile.