Court Hill

The walk up Court Hill from Aboyne takes about forty minutes if you're moving steadily, and the effort pays off with proper Highlands views across Deeside. It's not a dramatic peak - nothing showy - but that's rather the point. You're looking at rolling moorland, distant mountains, and on a clear day, enough visual real estate to make the climb feel worthwhile.

This suits walkers far more than families with small children. The path is straightforward enough, but it's sustained uphill work, and there's not much to hold a bored five-year-old's attention. Teenagers and adults after a solid morning's exertion will find it satisfying without being punishing.

Access is free and the walk is essentially open year-round, though winter brings muddy sections and shorter daylight that compress your window. Spring and early autumn are proper lovely - the light's different, and midges are less of a nuisance. Allow two hours for the round trip if you want to linger at the top.

Stay at Aboyne Loch Caravan Park, which is barely a mile away and sits right on the loch, or Firbank Park a touch further south if you fancy something smaller. Both are well-rated and give you a solid base for exploring Deeside. Court Hill fits neatly into a walking holiday without demanding the kind of commitment that bigger peaks require. It's the sort of walk you can string together with other local routes rather than make a special journey for, which is exactly how it should be used.