Mount Keen

The walk up Mount Keen is proper graft, but it's the sort that leaves you genuinely buzzing at the top. At 939 metres, it's the most easterly Munro in Scotland, which means something if you're a peak-bagger, and the approach from Ballater side is steep enough to sort the committed walkers from the casual strollers.

You're looking at a solid four to five hours up and down, depending on fitness. The path starts deceptively manageable then punches hard higher up - the final push rewards you with views across Aberdeenshire that stretch for miles on a clear day. Cloudier mornings? You'll be walking through a grey soup, which is less spectacular but honestly more atmospheric.

This is absolutely a hike for serious walkers rather than families after a gentle afternoon out. Bring proper kit - the weather changes fast up here. There's no visitor centre or facilities on the mountain itself, so bring water and snacks. It's free, of course.

If you're based at Ballater Caravan Park, Mount Keen makes a brilliant day out that doesn't require a long drive beforehand. The nearby Cairngorms National Park offers gentler alternatives if you've got mixed-ability folk in the group, but if everyone's up for the challenge, this one delivers the real thing - no crowds, proper views, and the satisfaction of bagging the easternmost Munro in Scotland.