Knockinglews

The walk up Knockinglews rewards you with one of those rare Scottish views that actually justifies the leg work. This modest peak sits just outside Inverurie in Aberdeenshire, and on a clear day you can see right across the Grampians - proper vast and sprawling in a way that makes you understand why people come to the Highlands in the first place.

It's not a brutal scramble. The route is straightforward enough for reasonably fit walkers, though the final push gets a touch steep. Allow a solid two hours there and back if you're not dawdling, less if you're quick. Families with older kids will manage it fine; younger ones might find the last bit tedious.

What sells it for me is the quietness. You'll get walkers, sure, but nothing like the mobs you encounter on the proper tourist peaks further west. The views across the valley are genuinely lovely - rolling moorland, forests, and on good days the distant snow caps. Bring a packed lunch if you want to sit about up top; there's nowhere to buy anything nearby.

If you're camping at Hillhead Caravan Park just down the way, this makes a cracking morning walk before heading back for a late breakfast. The Glamping Bothie is a bit further but still worth the drive if you want something more upmarket. Winter's brutal here, so stick to spring through autumn. Midges can be murder in July and August - bring repellent or accept the bites as part of the Scottish experience.