Cowrie Hill

The walk up Cowrie Hill from Banff takes about forty minutes if you're moving at a decent pace, and the effort pays off when you reach the summit. You're not climbing anything dramatic - it's a modest peak in Aberdeenshire - but the views across the Moray Firth compensate for the gentle gradient. On a clear day you can see right across to the Black Isle, and the Banff coastline unfolds below you properly rather than just as a postcard version of itself.

It's the sort of walk that suits families with older kids who don't need everything to be a scramble or a spectacle. The path is straightforward, no rock hopping, though your legs will know about it on the way down. Walkers passing through the area for a week or so at Banff Links or Myrus over in Macduff would do worse than spending a morning here instead of another coastal trudge. The views make it feel like you've gone somewhere, even though you're basically in your backyard if you're staying locally.

Go when it's not mid-afternoon drizzle - that's when the Aberdeenshire coast turns properly grey. Early morning or late afternoon light makes the whole thing worthwhile. Free, obviously. Park near Banff town centre and follow the signs. Allow two hours door-to-door if you're not rushing. It won't change your life, but it's a solid morning out, and beats queuing at another Scottish visitor centre.