Meal Mòr

The walk up Meal Mòr from Pitlochry rewards you with views across Perthshire that frankly justify the huff and puff. This isn't a towering alpine push - at 609 metres it's more of a decent afternoon effort than a serious scramble - but the summit delivers proper vistas across the Tay Valley and beyond.

The route from Pitlochry itself is straightforward enough, a clear path that climbs steadily through mixed woodland before opening out onto moorland. You'll spot the cairn on top without drama. On a clear day, which admittedly isn't guaranteed in this part of Scotland, you can pick out the Cairngorms to the north and the lower ground rolling south towards the lowlands.

Walkers will get the most from this one. The ascent takes roughly ninety minutes at a reasonable pace, and you could spend another half-hour pottering about at the summit if the weather holds. Families with older kids will manage fine, though younger ones might find the slog a bit relentless without the promise of something spectacular at the top - and on a grey day, that promise does feel a touch thin.

It's free, naturally, and there's car parking in Pitlochry to get you started. If you're staying at Inver Mill Farm Caravan Park just a few miles out, this makes a cracking morning or afternoon outing without driving anywhere fancy. The town itself has decent cafes for post-walk recovery, which is never unwelcome.