Fairy Hillock

The walk up Fairy Hillock from Blairgowrie isn't long, but it punches well above its weight for views. You're looking at maybe 45 minutes up through woodland before the trees thin out and the Perthshire landscape spreads below you - proper rolling countryside dotted with forestry plantations and the occasional loch catching the light.

It's a straightforward hill walk rather than a scramble, so families with decent boots manage it fine, though younger kids might find the climb tedious. Walkers pass through here regularly enough that the path's well-trodden. The name itself - Fairy Hillock - suggests older folklore, though these days you're more likely to spot red squirrels than anything mythical.

Allow a couple of hours return if you're not rushing, longer if you want to sit on top with a flask. There's no visitor facilities at the summit, so bring water. The hill's free to access from the public footpaths around Blairgowrie.

If you're staying at Nethercraig Holiday Park or Five Roads Caravan Park - both excellent bases just down the road - this makes a solid half-day outing without needing to travel far. The walk suits anyone after straightforward Highland views without the slog of bigger peaks. Weather permitting, the panorama across to the Grampians justifies the effort, though on a grey Scottish day you might question why you bothered.