Meall an Lundain

The walk up Meall an Lundain from Ballater is one of those hills that doesn't announce itself loudly but rewards you properly if you're willing to put in the graft. At 901 metres, it's not a bruising Cairngorm slog - more a solid afternoon's work that takes you well away from the tourist trails around Deeside.

The approach is straightforward enough, climbing through moorland and pine forest with views opening up as you gain height. On a clear day you're looking out across the Cairngorms and down to the Dee Valley - the kind of landscape that makes you remember why you came to Scotland in the first place. The summit itself is tussocky and windswept, exactly what a Scottish hill should be.

This is proper territory for walkers who know what they're doing. Families might find the four-hour round trip a bit much unless your kids are seasoned hillwalkers. In winter it demands respect and decent kit. Spring and autumn are your best bets - summer can bring midges that'll drive you half mad.

If you're based at Braemar Caravan Park, you're ideally placed for tackling this peak. It slots nicely into a longer week exploring the Cairngorms and Deeside peaks. Ballater itself is worth a morning on the way - proper granite town with a decent café culture and enough shops to keep non-walkers entertained while you're out on the hill.