Càrn Gorm

The walk up Càrn Gorm from Pitlochry takes you through proper Highland terrain without requiring mountaineering skills or a full day's commitment. Starting from the town itself, you climb past scattered pines and heather moorland to reach a modest peak with views that punch well above its 800-metre height - on a clear day you can see across to Ben Vrackie and beyond toward the Cairngorms themselves.

It's a straightforward three-to-four hour round trip that suits anyone comfortable with uphill hiking but not keen on serious scrambling. Families with older kids handle it fine; younger ones might flag on the return leg. The path is well-trodden and never technically difficult, just relentless in the climbing. On misty days you lose the views entirely, so check the forecast.

This works brilliantly as part of a longer Pitlochry-based week rather than a standalone pilgrimage. The town itself has enough cafes and shops to occupy an afternoon, and you've got Kilvrecht Campsite just 4 miles away if you're tent-based, or the five-star glamping pods at Tighnavon if you want something smarter. Either base gives you easy access not just to Càrn Gorm but to better-known walks like Ben Vrackie without the crowds that peak gets.

Go in September or October when the midges have cleared and the heather's still blooming. The view from the top isn't jaw-dropping enough to venture up in poor weather - save your energy for Ben Vrackie on a cloudless day instead.