Lamahip

The walk up Lamahip rewards you with big views across Royal Deeside without requiring proper mountaineering skills. It's a Cairngorms edge peak that climbs to 2,328 feet, and from the top you're looking across the Dee valley towards Braemar and the Grampian hills beyond - proper stunning on a clear day.

Getting up there takes roughly two hours from Aboyne, depending on fitness and which route you choose. The ground is moorland and rough grass, which means boggy patches are guaranteed, so waterproof boots aren't optional. The path is reasonably well-trodden but never becomes a proper track, and there's genuine exposure on the ridge walk itself - nothing dangerous if you're careful, but it feels serious enough to keep your attention.

Walkers will love this. It's serious enough to feel like an achievement but not so technical that it demands crampons and ropes. Families with teenagers who can manage four hours of steady climbing will get on fine; younger kids would struggle with the distance and terrain. Leave the pushchairs at home.

If you're staying at Aboyne Loch Caravan Park or Feughside, Lamahip makes a cracking full-day outing. You're close enough not to waste time driving, and it pairs well with exploring Aboyne itself or tackling easier walks through the estate grounds. The lack of facilities up there means you need to bring water and snacks - there's nothing but heather and views once you leave the village.