Càrn na Loine

The walk up Càrn na Loine isn't what you'd call a household name, even among Highlands regulars. It's a modest peak near Grantown-on-Spey, and that's rather the point - fewer people means you'll have the views to yourself on most days.

The route takes you through proper Scottish moorland, with birch scrub and heather giving way to wider vistas as you gain height. The summit itself isn't dramatic - no sudden drop or rocky scramble - but the 360-degree panorama across the Spey Valley is genuinely worth the effort. Clear days reward you with sight lines toward the Cairngorms proper, though you'll want to check conditions before heading out; the weather turns quickly up here.

Allow a couple of hours for the round trip if you're moderately fit. It's not technical, but the terrain is boggy in patches and unrelenting on the calves. Families with older kids will manage fine; anyone with toddlers should perhaps pick something lower.

Free to access, obviously - no gates or barriers. Go in the morning if you can; afternoon clouds roll in from the west with depressing regularity. The whole experience feels refreshingly straightforward - no café at the top, no visitor centre, just you and the Highlands doing what they do.

Grantown-on-Spey Caravan Park sits a few miles south and makes a sensible base. The town itself has decent facilities and it's well-positioned for exploring both this peak and the broader walking country that defines the region.