Norry Hill

The walk up Norry Hill from Keith takes about an hour if you're steady on your feet, and the views across Aberdeenshire proper justify every step. It's not a dramatic peak - you won't find the kind of Alpine theatrics you get further west - but on a clear day you can see for miles across the agricultural heartland, all rolling fields and distant hills fading into the horizon.

This is proper walking country rather than a tourist trap. You'll see locals out here with their dogs, which says something. The climb itself is straightforward, nothing technical, though it can get boggy after rain so decent boots matter. Most people spend a couple of hours up top with a flask and a sandwich.

Walkers will get the most from this one. Children old enough to manage a steady incline will enjoy the sense of achievement, though there's not much to do once you're there besides look about. If you're staying at Huntly Castle Holiday Park, it's barely five miles away - an easy excursion that breaks up a park-based holiday without demanding a full day's commitment.

The real appeal is that it feels local rather than packaged. You won't find a visitor centre or a cafe, just grass, wind, and proper Scottish views. Go when the weather's settled - too many grey days here and it becomes a rather damp trudge.