Scar Hill

The walk up Scar Hill isn't long, but it punches well above its weight. Starting from Milton of Cushnie, you're looking at a proper wee scramble that takes maybe an hour to the top if you're fit, longer if you're taking it easy. The path gets steep near the summit - nothing technical, but it'll make your legs work for the view.

What makes it worth the effort is how much of Aberdeenshire opens up once you're up there. On a clear day the panorama stretches from the Cairngorms south towards Braemar. The moorland rolling away below is genuinely beautiful, even if it's a bit windswept at the top. The actual peak is modest - a cairn and some scattered rocks - but you'll understand why locals keep coming back.

History enthusiasts might be drawn here more for the landscape itself than any specific heritage, though the area has plenty of tales if you know where to look. Families with older kids will manage it fine; younger ones might find the scramble a bit much. Allow a good two hours round-trip if you're stopping to take photos.

If you're basing yourself at Tarland Camping & Caravanning Club Site, you're perfectly positioned for this one. It's close enough for a morning trip without faffing about with transport. The site's ratings speak for themselves, and it puts you well for exploring the wider Aberdeenshire highlands. Free to climb, naturally. Go early if the weather's decent - it clouds over quickly up here.