Jock's Hill

The walk up Jock's Hill near Keith is a proper little lung-buster, but the payoff makes it worth the effort. You're looking at decent Highland views from the summit - nothing that'll leave you speechless like the Cairngorms, but on a clear day the rolling Aberdeenshire countryside spreads out nicely enough. Takes about an hour to get up and down depending on your fitness, so it's the kind of thing you can knock out between breakfast and lunch without feeling like you've wasted half your day.

It appeals most to walkers who want something more than a flat stroll but less than a full expedition. Families with older kids manage it fine. The path is straightforward enough, though muddy patches come with the territory around these parts. There's no visitor centre or facilities at the top, just you and the landscape.

If you're staying at Hillside Havens, which is only a couple of miles away, this makes an excellent leg-stretcher during a park-based holiday. You're not committed to spending all day outdoors, and there's time to sort tea afterwards. Free to visit, obviously - it's just a hill. Go in decent weather or don't bother; the views are the whole reason you're there.