Lownie Hill

The walk up Lownie Hill rewards you with proper Highland views without needing a full day's commitment. It's a modest peak near Forfar, but don't let that put you off - the summit gives you a genuine sense of the Aberdeenshire landscape rolling out beneath you. On a clear day you can see well beyond the immediate countryside, and the path itself is straightforward enough for most fitness levels, though it's steeper in sections than the gradient might suggest from a distance.

Walkers will get the most from this one. It's not a destination for those after a leisurely stroll with a packed lunch - you're looking at roughly an hour up and back depending on your pace and where you start. Families with older kids will manage it fine; younger ones might find it a bit of a slog. The real appeal is accessibility. You don't need to drive hours into the mountains or camp wild to get that sense of elevation and space.

If you're based at Greenhillock Glamping nearby, this makes an excellent morning outing before heading elsewhere in the region. It's the sort of hill that justifies itself through effort rather than drama, and that's actually quite refreshing. Worth the walk, but go expecting a solid ramble rather than a showstopping panorama.