Monluth Hill

The walk up Monluth Hill from Banchory takes you through proper Deeside countryside - rolling moorland that opens out with every few hundred metres gained. It's not a brutal climb, more of a steady plod that rewards you with increasingly wide views across Aberdeenshire. On a clear day you can see for miles, which makes the effort genuinely worthwhile.

Allow a couple of hours there and back from the Banchory side, depending on fitness. The terrain is straightforward enough - moorland path that's wet underfoot in places but nothing technical. Families with older kids will manage it fine; younger ones might find the final push dull. History buffs won't find much here - it's about the walk and the view, not the place itself.

It's free, obviously, and you can do it whenever you fancy. Winter brings mud and shorter daylight, so spring through early autumn is sensible. The real charm lies in how quiet it stays compared to the big-name Cairngorms peaks. You'll likely have the hill largely to yourself.

If you're basing yourself at Glen Dye Cabins or Banchory Lodge Caravan Park - both excellent spots - this works as a half-day outing. Silverbank, just up the road, puts you equally well placed. It's the sort of walk that justifies a park holiday in the area without demanding you commit an entire day. Decent enough to do, not so dramatic it'll blow your mind, but perfectly pleasant on a decent afternoon.