Craigangowan

The walk up Craigangowan from Banchory isn't long, but it's steep enough that you'll feel it in your legs. The summit sits at just over 300 metres, which means the climb takes about forty minutes if you're moving at a decent pace. What makes it worth the effort is the view across the Dee Valley - genuinely sweeping on a clear day, with the Cairngorms rising up behind. On a grey Scottish afternoon, mind you, you're mostly peering through mist.

The path itself is straightforward: a marked trail that heads up through woodland before opening onto moorland. The ground can be boggy lower down, especially in winter, so decent boots matter. It's the sort of walk that appeals to families with older kids and anyone after a proper hill experience without needing an assault course of scrambling.

Allow an hour and a half return, maybe two if you're taking photographs or just enjoying the quiet. There's nothing up there - no café, no visitor centre, just the trig point and space to breathe. Completely free, obviously. The timing works well if you're staying at Glen Dye Cabins and Cottages, which is barely six miles away and makes a proper base for this part of Aberdeenshire. Go on a weekday morning if you can; weekends pull in enough folk that you'll cross paths regularly. Winter's atmospheric but the path can be treacherous when frozen. Autumn's the sweet spot.