Little Balloch

The walk up Little Balloch rewards you with proper Highland views without the slog of the bigger peaks. It's a modest hill by Scottish standards - nothing that'll leave you gasping for breath - but the panorama across Aberdeenshire once you're up there makes the effort worthwhile. You get sight lines to the distant Cairngorms on a clear day, and the surrounding farmland spreads out below like a patchwork quilt.

Keith sits just down the road, which makes this a natural fit if you're passing through the area rather than a destination in itself. The walk itself takes a couple of hours there and back depending on your fitness, and it's one of those climbs that works well for families with older kids - testing enough to feel like an achievement, not so brutal they'll complain the entire way.

Timing matters here. Early morning or late afternoon light transforms the whole thing; midday sun can drain the character from the view. Weather rolls in fast in the Highlands, so check the forecast before you head out.

If you're staying at Huntly Castle Holiday Park or Hillhead Hideaways nearby, this is a solid morning or afternoon outing that won't eat up your whole day. Pair it with a wander around Keith itself or tackle another of the local hills. It's the sort of walk that folk enjoy more in retrospect than during - but that's Highland walking for you.