Stanley Hill

The walk up Stanley Hill near Dunkeld is genuinely worthwhile - about 45 minutes on foot from the car park, steady gradient, nothing technical. You're rewarded with proper views across the Tay Valley and into the surrounding hills. On a clear day it's excellent; on a grey one, well, you're getting Scottish weather and that's part of the charm.

It's a straightforward woodland path that opens out as you climb, so families with reasonably fit kids manage it fine. No scrambling or exposure to worry about. The whole round trip takes a couple of hours without rushing, which is ideal if you're staying at one of the nearby caravan parks - Inver Mill Farm is less than a mile away - and want an afternoon walk without losing half your day.

The view itself isn't dramatic in the way Ben Lomond is, but there's something satisfying about it. You can see why people wanted to live in this valley. It's proper Perthshire landscape - rolling rather than jagged, managed forests, the river valley doing its thing below.

Go early if you can, especially in summer. The car park fills up with day visitors from Perth and Edinburgh, and midday is busy. There's no café at the top, so bring water. Free to access, no fees I'm aware of. It works well as part of a longer stay in the area - combine it with the nearby parks and you've got a solid few days of walking without driving far.