The Crandard

The walk up to The Crandard isn't long, but it's steep enough that you'll feel it in your legs. This Aberdeenshire peak sits just outside Blairgowrie, and once you reach the top, the view across the Scottish Highlands opens up properly - moorland rolling out in every direction, with glimpses of the Cairngorms on a clear day.

It's not a dramatic summit. No dramatic rock formations or mountain drama. What you get instead is a proper vantage point over the surrounding landscape, the kind of spot where locals bring visiting friends to show them what their patch of Scotland actually looks like. The approach is manageable for reasonably fit walkers - allow an hour up and the same coming down, longer if you're taking it slowly.

Hill walkers and anyone wanting a genuine Highland experience without needing full mountaineering kit will get the most from it. Families with older kids can manage it fine; younger ones might find the climb tedious. The moorland terrain can be boggy depending on the season, so decent boots are essential.

If you're based at Nethercraig Holiday Park nearby, this makes an excellent morning excursion - you're back for lunch without faffing about with long drives. Go on a day when the cloud's lifted; the views on a grey afternoon aren't worth the effort. Free to visit, as with most Scottish peaks, and accessible year-round, though midges in summer might test your patience.