Creag a' Chleirich

The walk up Creag a' Chleirich from Ballater rewards you with proper Cairngorms views without the full mountain drama. It's a fair old push to the summit at 1,500 feet, but nothing that'll break you if you're reasonably fit. The path climbs steadily through Scottish heather and pine, and on a clear day you get the Dee Valley spread beneath you like a map. Not the most dramatic peak in Aberdeenshire, but that's rather the point - you'll have the ridge mostly to yourself while the crowds are hammering up Ben Avon next door.

On the plateau itself, the views open up nicely. Ballater sits small in the valley below, and you can see right into the heart of the Cairngorms. The round trip takes a couple of hours depending on fitness and pace. Families with walking experience won't struggle, though younger legs might find the climb tedious on a hot day. There's nothing technical about it, just relentless uphill.

If you're staying at Braemar Caravan Park - just 1.7 miles away - this works beautifully as a morning excursion before the midges get going. Free, obviously, and you can start whenever suits. Go early though. The weather shifts fast up there, and there's no shelter once you're on the open ground. Come prepared for wind and possible mist, even when the valley's basking in sunshine. It's worth the effort if you're after a genuine hill walk without the formality of the big summits.