Glas Thom

The walk up Glas Thom doesn't announce itself as anything special until you're actually on it. Most people heading into the Cairngorms either skip it or treat it as a warm-up climb, which is a mistake. From Strathdon, it's a straightforward approach through moorland that opens up proper views across Aberdeenshire once you crest around 700 metres.

The summit itself sits at 808 metres, so nothing that'll leave you gasping, but the perspective changes as you gain height. On a clear day you're looking over the Cairngorm plateau and down the Don Valley - the kind of uncluttered vista that reminds you why people bother with Scottish hills in the first place. There's something about the relative isolation here too. This isn't Ben Avon or Lochnagar, so you won't be queuing for photos.

Realistically, allow three to four hours return from the car park near Strathdon. The terrain is bog and heather - standard Highland rough going, nothing technical. Families with teenagers who enjoy a proper walk will find it worthwhile. Solo walkers and fell runners often use it as part of a longer route through the area.

If you're staying at Cairngorms Glamping & Campsite five miles away, Glas Thom works as a half-day option before or after exploring the broader Cairngorms. It lacks the alpine drama of higher peaks, but that's also why you'll have the place largely to yourself. Worth doing if you're in the area, not worth planning a trip around.