Star Hill

The walk up Star Hill takes you out of Keith and into proper Aberdeenshire hill country - nothing dramatic, but genuinely rewarding if you're after a decent leg-stretch with views that sweep across the Highlands. It's more moorland than mountain, the sort of place where you'll see more grouse than other walkers, and the paths are straightforward enough that families with older kids won't struggle.

Allow about two hours for the round trip depending on your pace and how long you linger at the top. On a clear day you get a real sense of how the landscape rolls away towards Huntly and beyond - the kind of view that makes sense of why folk have settled in these valleys for centuries. Weather can turn quickly up here though, so check conditions before you go.

It's free to walk, naturally. The nearest proper town is Keith, which has the usual facilities if you need fuel before or after. If you're staying at Huntly Castle Holiday Park five miles away, this makes a proper morning outing - close enough that you won't spend half your day driving, far enough that it feels like a genuine escape. The park itself is well-reviewed for families, so you could combine a night or two there with a few good walks in the area.

Star Hill won't win any Instagram competitions, but that's rather the point. It's the sort of Scottish hill that rewards a visit without demanding pilgrimage status.