Sim's Hill

The walk up Sim's Hill catches most people off guard - it's steeper than the modest height suggests, and the path can be boggy after rain. But that's rather the point. This isn't a tourist honeypot; it's a proper Perthshire hill that rewards you with views across the Tay valley and beyond without the crowds you'd get on Ben Lomond or Ben Vorlich.

From the summit, on a clear day, you can see right across to the Ochils and south towards Stirling. The walk itself takes roughly an hour up, depending on fitness and how often you stop to catch your breath. Locals know it well; visitors less so, which means the heather and moorland feel genuinely wild rather than trampled.

This works best for walkers who don't need an Instagram moment or a visitor centre with a cafe. Families with older kids who can handle uneven terrain will get something out of it. Bring decent boots and waterproofs - the Scottish weather changes fast, and exposure at the top is genuine if the wind's up.

It sits nicely within a Perthshire break. Perth itself is close enough for provisions and a decent meal afterwards. If you're basing yourself at Greenhill Farm Glamping or Alexander House, both nearby, Sim's Hill makes a solid morning's outing before exploring Scone Palace or the Tay riverside walks. Not earth-shattering, but honest and unpretentious - which is rather Scottish.