Craigenget

The walk up Craigenget is a proper Scottish hill experience without the pretension. You're looking at a modest peak in the Aberdeenshire Highlands near Tornaveen, roughly 650 metres of climbing that feels steeper than it sounds, especially on the approach. The reward is a landscape that opens up - moorland sweeping away in all directions, the kind of view that makes you understand why people come back to the Highlands again and again.

This isn't a destination for those wanting summit cafés or waymarked footpaths every fifty metres. Craigenget demands you know what you're doing with a map and compass. That makes it ideal for experienced hillwalkers who want to escape the tourist trail without committing to a full day in the mountains. Budget two to three hours depending on fitness and the weather conditions, which can turn quickly up here.

Families with older kids who've done a few hills will manage it fine. Younger ones or anyone after an easy afternoon stroll should look elsewhere. The ground is boggy in places, so decent boots aren't optional.

If you're based at Greenpark Leisure Ltd, which sits only four and a half miles away, Craigenget makes a solid half-day excursion. It doesn't require booking or payment - you just turn up and climb. That simplicity is part of the appeal. No infrastructure means no crowds, and that's worth the bog-dodging.