Hill of Ryland

The walk up Hill of Ryland rewards you with proper views across Aberdeenshire's rolling coastline and inland valleys. It's not a dramatic peak - nothing that'll leave you gasping - but the climb itself is straightforward enough that you won't feel you've wasted the effort once you reach the top.

The hill sits within easy reach of Banff, making it a solid half-day option if you're based at one of the nearby caravan parks. Banff Links is closest at under five miles, and honestly, this works well as a leg-stretcher after a morning on the park. Myrus over in Macduff and Whitehills are also nearby enough that none of them feel like a slog of a drive.

Walkers get the most from this one - it's the sort of hill that appeals to people who like their exercise without the technical scrambling. Families with older kids will manage fine; younger ones might find it a bit of a yawn on the way down. The views aren't dramatic enough to hold attention for hours, so plan on an hour or so for the whole experience rather than making an afternoon of it.

Timing-wise, clear days matter here. Come when the weather's settled and you can actually see something worthwhile. On grey days it feels rather flat. There's no visitor infrastructure - no café, no visitor centre - so bring water and don't expect facilities at the top. Free to access, naturally, with standard access rights applying.