Glaspits

The walk up to Glaspits rewards you with views that stretch across the Cairngorms - proper Highland scenery from a relatively modest hill. It's the kind of peak that doesn't demand a full day commitment, making it ideal if you're based near Aboyne and want to stretch your legs without turning it into an expedition.

You're climbing through open moorland with patches of heather, and the path is straightforward enough. The summit itself isn't dramatic - no dramatic rocky pinnacle - but the 360-degree perspective makes the effort worthwhile. On a clear day, you can see right across the valley. Weather here shifts fast, so don't rely on morning sunshine.

Walkers will find this one genuinely useful as part of a wider circuit through the area rather than a standalone destination. It takes roughly two hours up and down at a steady pace, so you're looking at a half-day outing. Families with primary-school-age kids will manage it fine; toddlers would struggle with the uneven ground.

If you're staying at Feughside Caravan Park or Glen Dye Cabins, this fits perfectly into a week exploring the Aberdeenshire glens. The landscape here is working farmland and moorland rather than manicured park walks - it feels genuinely remote despite being accessible. Bring decent boots and a windproof. There's no café at the top, unsurprisingly, so pack snacks if you plan to linger.