Ordiquhill

Ordiquhill sits just outside Huntly, a modest hill that punches above its weight if you're after a proper walk without the scramble. At 815 metres it's not going to knacker you, but the climb itself is steady enough to remind your legs why you left the car behind.

The summit rewards you with views across Aberdeenshire's farming belt and, on a clear day, enough of the Highlands to make the effort feel justified. It's the sort of walk where you'll see more skylarks than people, especially mid-week. Reckon on a couple of hours return from the car park if you take it steady.

Families with kids aged eight and up will get something from it - the route is straightforward, no technical bits, and the distance is manageable for young legs. Older walkers appreciate that you can bag a Marilyn (that's a Scottish hill classification, if you're into that sort of thing) without needing specialist kit or a dawn start.

The best time is late spring through early autumn when the weather's least likely to turn on you halfway up. If you're staying at Huntly Castle Holiday Park nearby, this is an easy morning jaunt before heading into town for lunch. It's the kind of walk that works well alongside a castle visit - Huntly Castle itself is close by and worth seeing after you've worked up an appetite. Nothing fancy, just good honest hill walking.