Hill of Tipperty

The walk up Hill of Tipperty isn't long, but it's steep enough to earn your breath back. Once you've crested the heather moorland above Banff, the views across Aberdeenshire unfold properly - the Moray coast spreads out below, and on a clear day you can trace the curve of the North Sea all the way east. It's the kind of spot where you understand why people settled here centuries ago.

This is a straightforward hill walk rather than a tourist attraction with facilities. You're looking at maybe ninety minutes there and back if you're not rushing, though families with younger legs might take longer. The path itself is well-trodden but can be boggy after rain, so proper boots matter. There's no admission fee - it's open moorland - and no specific opening hours to worry about, though obviously daylight hours make sense.

Walkers will get the most from this one. The views reward the effort, and the sense of space up there is genuinely striking if you're used to busier countryside. Young children might find the climb a slog without much to see until the summit, so it depends on what they're into. If you're based at one of the caravan parks near Banff - Banff Links is closest at just three miles away - it's a solid half-day outing that won't eat up much of your holiday. Pair it with a wander round Banff's harbour and a fish supper and you've got a proper day sorted. The climb alone isn't the draw - it's what you see from the top that sticks with you.