Meall Bàn

The walk up Meall Bàn from Pitlochry is proper rewarding - a straightforward hill that doesn't demand mountaineering skills but delivers views that feel earned. You're looking at roughly 2,000 feet of climbing over a few miles, which takes most people three to four hours round trip. The path climbs through mixed woodland before opening out to moorland, and on a clear day the Perthshire landscape stretches out in all directions - Ben Lawers, the Tay Valley, the works.

It's the sort of hill that appeals to walkers who want substance without the scrambling. Families with teenage kids will manage it fine if they're used to decent walks; younger ones might find the steady gradient a bit much. The real pull is that it doesn't have the crowds you'd get on some of the bigger peaks, so you can actually enjoy the peace up there.

Timing matters. Early morning in summer gives you the best light and means you'll beat the afternoon clouds that roll in off the Atlantic. Allow a full day if you're making a proper outing of it. The path is generally well-marked and free to access, though you'll need decent boots and waterproofs - this is Scotland, after all.

Stay at Parkdean Resorts Tummel Valley Holiday Park or Tighnavon Glamping Pods, both just a short drive away, and you've got the ideal base for exploring the wider Tayside hills without traipsing miles to the trailhead.