Mortlich

The walk up Mortlich rewards you with proper Highland views without requiring mountaineer credentials. It's a modest peak by Scottish standards - nothing too dramatic - but from the summit you get sightlines across Aberdeenshire that justify the effort, particularly on a clear day when you can trace the valley toward Aboyne below.

This is walker territory, full stop. The path is straightforward enough for anyone with decent fitness and waterproof boots, though it's steep in sections and the weather can turn quickly. Most people allow two to three hours for the round trip, depending on fitness and how long you linger at the top. There's something satisfying about it being neither too easy nor gruelling - a proper half-day's graft without the commitment of a serious mountain day.

You'll want to avoid winter unless you're experienced with snow and ice. Spring and early autumn are lovely - midges can be brutal in high summer. It's free, obviously, being a Scottish hill. Car parking is informal, so arrive early if you're going at weekends.

If you're based at Aboyne Loch Caravan Park - which is genuinely excellent, just 1.3 miles away - this makes a solid morning walk before lunch. Tarland Camping & Caravanning Club Site and Firbank Park are slightly further out but still convenient for tackling Mortlich as part of a broader Aberdeenshire itinerary. It fits perfectly between gentler lowland walking and the more serious mountain stuff further west.