Lodge Hill

The walk up Lodge Hill takes you straight out of Banff and into proper hill country without the fuss. It's not a mountain by Alpine standards, but the views across Aberdeenshire's coastline and inland farmland are genuinely excellent - worth the moderate climb and the time it takes to get up and back. The route itself is straightforward, following paths that wind through moorland with that exposed, slightly windswept feel you get in the Scottish northeast.

Most people do it in under two hours return, making it a cracking option if you're staying at one of the nearby caravan parks - Banff Links or Portsoy Links are closest - and want something more active than a beach walk but less demanding than a full Cairngorms expedition. Families with older kids will manage it fine; younger ones might find the ascent a bit relentless halfway up. History enthusiasts will appreciate the landscape itself rather than any specific monuments.

Go in decent weather if you can. On a clear day you'll see right down the coast towards the Moray Firth. When it's grey and damp, the appeal fades pretty quickly. There's no visitor centre or facilities at the top, so bring water and a packed lunch if you're making a morning of it. Free to access, naturally - it's a hillside, not a theme park.

If you're basing yourself in the area for a week, pair this with walks around Cullen or Portknockie to the west. It's a solid addition to a caravan park holiday, not a reason to come on its own.