Hill of Skilmafilly

The walk up Skilmafilly is a proper little work, but the effort pays off once you're up there looking out across Aberdeenshire. It's not a dramatic summit - nothing like the big Cairngorms peaks you get further west - but on a clear day you can see right across the farmland towards the coast near Ellon. The hill itself is moorland, fairly open, so there's wind to contend with more often than not.

This is walker territory, really. Families with young kids might find it a slog, though older ones keen on a challenge will enjoy it. History buffs get less out of it than they would from some of the castle trails in the area. What you're after here is straightforward hill time - decent views, fresh air, and the satisfaction of reaching the top without needing climbing gear or serious mountaineering skills.

The ascent takes a couple of hours depending on fitness. Allow three hours total if you're taking photographs or wanting to sit at the summit for a bit. There's moorland walking before and after if you fancy extending it. Go on a day when the weather's cooperating; mist rolls in quickly and then you're just walking through grey soup.

If you're based at Ythan Valley Campsite - a solid spot just 3.6 miles away - Skilmafilly makes a decent half-day outing to break up a week of park life. It's accessible without being trivial, and close enough that you're not burning half the day on travel.