Hill of Garvock

The walk up Hill of Garvock rewards you with proper views across Aberdeenshire's coast and countryside. It's not a dramatic peak - more of a steady climb through moorland that gets progressively better as you gain height. From the top, you can see across to Montrose and beyond, which is worth the effort on a clear day.

This is good terrain for walkers who don't need dramatic scrambling. The path's straightforward enough that families with teenagers manage it fine, though younger kids might find the steady gradient a bit much. Allow around two hours return trip, depending on your pace and how long you linger at the summit. Go in decent weather - the views vanish quickly in low cloud, and there's not much else to occupy you up there.

The nearest town of Montrose sits just three miles away, making this a natural add-on to a coastal holiday. St Cyrus Holiday Park is practically on your doorstep at three miles, so you could knock this walk off before breakfast and be back for coffee. Royal Arch Riverside Park is similarly close if you're based there. It's the sort of outing that works best as part of a broader Aberdeenshire itinerary rather than a destination in itself - perfectly decent but not the sort of thing that'll stay with you for years.