Craig Megen

The walk up Craig Megen rewards you with a proper panorama across Deeside and into the Cairngorms proper. It's not a massive undertaking - most walkers manage it in two to three hours return from Ballater - but the climb is steep enough to feel like real work.

This is granite country, and the rock underfoot can be loose in places, so decent boots matter. The summit sits at just under 2,000 feet, which means you're high enough to see for miles on a clear day but low enough that the weather can turn quickly. I've been up when visibility was excellent and you can pick out Lochnagar way off; other times the cloud has rolled in thick enough to obscure your own feet.

It's a walker's attraction, pure and simple. Families with older kids will do fine, but you'll want children who actually enjoy hiking rather than just the idea of it. The views from the top are the thing here - there's no café, no interpretive boards, no facilities. Just landscape and the occasional golden eagle if you're lucky.

The path starts from near Ballater itself, making it an easy morning or afternoon slot if you're based at Ballater Caravan Park, which sits just four or so miles away. Combine it with a stroll round the town's shops or a pint at the local and you've got a proper day sorted. Go early if possible - afternoon clouds often build from the west.