Craig of Dalfro

The walk up Craig of Dalfro isn't long, but it's steep enough to make you feel like you've actually earned the view. From Banchory, it's a straightforward push inland through moorland and rough grass, climbing to the summit where the Cairngorms sprawl out in front of you like someone's left a topographic map on the table. On a clear day - and you'll need one - you can see for miles across Aberdeenshire.

It's the sort of walk that suits hikers who want half an hour of proper exertion without committing to a full day in the hills. Families with children old enough to manage steep ground will get on fine. Anyone after a gentle ramble should look elsewhere. The rock outcrops near the top are worth scrambling around, and the wind can be vicious, so it's worth checking the weather before you head out.

If you're based at one of the local caravan parks - Feughside, Glen Dye, Banchory Lodge, or Silverbank - it makes a sensible half-day outing. Banchory itself is the obvious jumping-off point, giving you time to grab something to eat afterwards. The drive in is straightforward, parking simple. Allow ninety minutes to two hours total if you're not rushing, and go when the cloud's actually lifted. It's not dramatic or famous, but that's rather the point - you'll have it mostly to yourself.