Craiglich

The walk up Craiglich starts gentle enough from Aboyne, but don't let that fool you - this peak has proper teeth. You're looking at a steep haul through moorland that opens up once you get height, and the views across the Cairngorms and down to Deeside are absolutely worth the huffing and puffing. The summit itself isn't much to look at - a trig point and some wind - but the vista is why you came.

This is a walker's hill, no question. It'll take most people three to four hours round trip depending on fitness and how long you linger at the top. The path is well-trodden but can be boggy after rain, so proper boots matter. If you've got teenagers who fancy themselves outdoorsy, they'll get something from this. Younger kids might find it a bit relentless.

Timing-wise, go early and go in decent weather. The Scottish Highlands can turn murky fast, and you don't want to be groping about in mist. Summer months give you the longest daylight and the best chance of clear views, though spring and autumn can be cracking too.

If you're staying at Aboyne Loch Caravan Park or Tarland Camping & Caravanning Club Site - both just down the road - this makes a proper full day out combined with an afternoon poke around Aboyne itself. It's not a quick tick-box attraction, but that's rather the point.