Peter's Hill

The walk up Peter's Hill near Ballater rewards you with views across Royal Deeside that make the climb worthwhile. It's a straightforward hill walk rather than a technical scramble - the sort of thing that takes two or three hours round trip depending on your pace and how long you linger at the top.

On a clear day you can see proper distance from the summit. The Cairngorms fill the horizon to the west, and the landscape rolls away in that particular Highland way that somehow looks both wild and managed at once. Bring a map if you're navigation-conscious; the paths are clear enough but this isn't marked out like a city park.

For families with older kids who've done a bit of walking before, it's a solid choice - not too brutal, not boring. Younger children might find it a slog without much to do once they get there, so think about what your lot are into. History buffs won't find much on the hill itself, but the views put you in the landscape where folk have lived and worked for centuries.

It costs nothing to walk it, and you can park near Ballater easily enough. The nearby caravan parks - Ballater Caravan Park and Howe of Torbeg are both well-rated - sit close enough that you could slot this walk into a longer Deeside trip without much faffing about. Early morning is best if you want clear views and solitude. Midges can be fierce in summer, so pack repellent if you're going July or August.