Hill of Itlaw

The walk up Hill of Itlaw from Banff takes about forty minutes if you're reasonably fit, though the final push gets properly steep. What you get for your effort is a cracking vantage point over the Moray Firth coastline - on a clear day you can see right across to the opposite shore, and the town of Banff shrinks to something manageable below.

It's not a technical climb by any stretch. The path is well-trodden and there's nothing that would trouble most adults or older children, though younger kids might find the gradient tedious. The real appeal is the view rather than the destination itself - there's no café or visitor facility waiting at the top, just grass, wind, and those far-reaching coastal vistas.

Banff itself is a compact seaside town with enough character to warrant a morning or afternoon, and Hill of Itlaw works nicely as an add-on if you've got the legs for it. If you're based at one of the nearby caravan parks - Banff Links is closest, sitting right by the town - you could pair this with a walk along the beach or a poke around the harbour without making it a full day commitment.

The walk is free, naturally. There's no best time really, though winter can make it bleak and midges can be brutal in July and August. Spring or early autumn hits the sweet spot - you'll have the energy and the weather will cooperate more often than not.