Meikle Tap

The walk up Meikle Tap rewards you with proper views across Aberdeenshire once you've earned them. It's not a lung-busting climb - more of a steady pull that takes around two hours from the car park, depending on your pace and how often you stop to look back at the valley below.

This is Cairngorms territory, and Meikle Tap sits at a decent height without demanding serious mountaineering kit. The path is generally well-trodden, though it gets boggy in places after rain, so decent boots make sense. On a clear day you can see for miles - the Dee Valley stretches out nicely, and if visibility's on your side, the distant hills create that classic Scottish backdrop.

Walkers will get the most from this one. It's the kind of outing that justifies a morning out without needing to commit to a full ridge traverse. Families with kids aged eight upwards should manage it fine, though younger legs might find it tedious. The summit cairn's modest - don't expect drama - but the sense of having walked to a proper high point keeps people satisfied.

Banchory sits just down the road, making this a natural fit if you're based at Silverbank, Banchory Lodge, or Greenpark leisure sites. An afternoon slot works well if you're not starting until lunchtime. The weather changes fast up here, so check the forecast before you go. Free to access, obviously - just park sensibly and get on with it.