Craigellachie

The walk up Craigellachie is properly steep and takes about ninety minutes each way, but the payoff is worth the slog. You're climbing 260 metres on a well-trodden path from the car park just outside Aviemore, and the Highland views open up fast once you get above the treeline. From the summit you can see across to the Cairngorms on a clear day, and the crags themselves are dramatic sandstone formations that look far more impressive than the modest height suggests.

This is squarely a hillwalkers' proposition rather than a casual family stroll, though determined kids with decent boots will manage it. The path can be boggy in patches and the final approach involves some scrambling, so proper footwear matters. Allow three hours total if you're a steady pace walker, longer if you're taking photos or stopping to catch your breath.

Timing-wise, the later evening light does something special to those sandstone cliffs, but start early enough that you're not descending in the dark. Spring and autumn tend to offer the clearest views before the summer midges kick in.

If you're staying at Dalraddy Holiday Park nearby, Craigellachie makes an excellent half-day excursion during a broader Aviemore trip. It's the kind of walk that feels like a proper accomplishment without requiring the full mountaineering commitment of something like Ben Macdui.