Hill of Cummerton

The walk up Hill of Cummerton rewards you with proper Highland views across Aberdeenshire, and the climb itself is steep enough to feel like an achievement without being a full day's graft. You're looking at rolling moorland, distant peaks, and on a clear day, sight lines that stretch for miles. It's the sort of place where you actually feel the landscape shift beneath your feet as you gain height.

This is walker territory, full stop. If you're staying at Cairngorms Glamping & Campsite nearby and fancy escaping the campfire for a few hours, it's a solid choice. Families with kids aged ten and up will manage the ascent, though younger ones might grumble on the way down. The views aren't Instagram-famous, which is rather the point - you won't be queuing with fifty other people at the summit.

Strathdon sits just down the way, so you can sort supplies there before heading out. The walk takes a couple of hours return depending on your pace and how much you linger at the top. Conditions matter - in wet weather the path gets properly boggy, and in cloud the whole thing becomes a bit pointless. Go when the weather's playing ball.

It's free to access, no facilities at the top, so bring water and something to eat. The draw here is genuinely just the landscape and the walk itself - there's no visitor centre or café to soften the experience. If that appeals to you, it's well worth the detour from your Cairngorms base.