Hill of Dens

The walk up Hill of Dens near Mintlaw isn't particularly long, but it rewards you with proper views across Aberdeenshire's rolling farmland and moorland. On a clear day you can see well beyond the immediate landscape - the kind of vista that makes you understand why people settled here centuries ago.

It's a straightforward climb, nothing technical, which means families with older kids and casual walkers will find it manageable. The peak itself is modest in height but the moorland setting gives it a sense of space that the numbers don't quite suggest. Allow an hour or so from Mintlaw if you're not rushed.

Historically this area is thick with Bronze Age cairns and medieval settlements, so if you're into that sort of thing there's archaeology underfoot - though you'll need to do some homework beforehand to spot what's significant. It's not a place where everything is signposted and explained for you.

For a caravan holiday in the area, this works well as a half-morning walk before heading to Aden Caravan & Camping just a couple of miles south. The park itself sits in proper Aberdeenshire countryside, so you're already positioned for this kind of exploration. The hill doesn't demand specialist kit or fitness - just decent boots and a weather eye, since moorland weather turns fast. Winter mornings can be magical here, though spring and autumn are probably your best bets for reliable conditions.