Mongour

The walk up Mongour rewards you with proper Highland views without requiring fell-runner fitness. At 2,285 feet, it's a solid afternoon outing from Banchory - high enough to feel like an achievement, low enough that you're not fighting for breath the entire way up.

The route itself winds through mixed woodland before opening out onto heather moorland, and the views across Deeside towards the Grampians are genuinely excellent on a clear day. You'll spot Banchory far below, which helps orientate you to where you've come from. The summit's unremarkable in person - just a cairn and some rocks - but the approach is far more interesting than many Scottish peaks of similar height.

This is walker territory, really. Families with energetic kids aged ten and up will manage it fine; younger ones might struggle on the steeper sections. Experienced fell walkers will find it a bit straightforward, though it's worth doing if you're staying locally and want something quick without compromising on views.

Allow two to three hours for the round trip, depending on fitness. There's no visitor centre or facilities at the summit, so take water and something to eat. Spring and summer offer the longest daylight and driest ground; avoid it after heavy rain when the paths get boggy.

If you're based at Silverbank Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite or Banchory Lodge Caravan Park - both highly rated locally - Mongour works as a morning walk, leaving time to explore Banchory itself or venture further into Royal Deeside. It's the sort of hill that slots neatly into a wider week without dominating it.