Hill of Kirkney

The walk up Hill of Kirkney isn't long, but it punches well above its weight. You get proper Highland views from the top - rolling moorland stretching out towards Clatt and beyond, the kind of landscape that makes you understand why people move to Aberdeenshire and never leave. The summit's bare, windswept, and you can see for miles on a clear day. Locals reckon it's best tackled in the morning when the light's good and before afternoon mist rolls in. The approach is straightforward enough - no scrambling required - so it works for families with older kids and anyone after a proper walk without needing crampons and a rope. Allow a couple of hours there and back from the car park, depending on your pace. It's free, obviously. Worth combining with Huntly Castle Holiday Park if you're basing yourself in the area for a few days - the hill makes a solid morning outing before heading to the park's facilities. The real appeal is the solitude. You won't fight crowds here like you would further north. If you're the sort who enjoys moorland walking and doesn't need visitor centres and gift shops, this delivers. Winter's harder going - the path gets boggy - so aim for spring through autumn. On a grey day it's fairly bleak, but that's rather the point.