Craig Dearg

The walk up Craig Dearg rewards you with views across Aberdeenshire that stretch for miles. This isn't a technical climb - it's more of a proper hill walk from Ballater, gaining height steadily but nothing that'll leave you gasping. The summit sits at just over 2,000 feet, high enough to feel like you've earned something without needing mountaineering skills.

What you get is moorland underfoot, often boggy in the lower reaches, and panoramic views once you breach the cloud line. On a clear day - and you need to time this right - you'll see across the Cairngorms and down into Deeside. The walk itself takes a couple of hours up, similar back down. Most people find it manageable without a guide, though map work helps.

This is fundamentally a walkers' destination. Families with kids aged ten and up who are used to proper walking will manage fine. History buffs might find the landscape itself interesting rather than any built structures. If you're staying at Ballater Caravan Park, it's close enough for a half-day sortie without major travel time.

Go early if possible - afternoon cloud can roll in quickly up here. There's no café at the top, so bring water and something to eat. The moorland can be wet year-round, so proper boots aren't a suggestion. Free to walk, obviously. Time this as part of a broader Deeside exploration rather than a single-attraction trip.