The Strone

The Strone sits just outside Aboyne, a proper little peak that packs more punch than its modest 643 metres suggests. It's an honest hill rather than a mountain - steep enough to earn your leg muscles' attention, but gentle enough that most reasonably fit walkers can knock it out in a couple of hours. The views from the top sweep across the Cairngorms and down into Royal Deeside, which on a clear day are genuinely worth the climb.

The walk itself starts from a car park near the village and rises through mixed woodland before opening onto rough moorland. It's not a technical ascent - no scrambling, no exposed bits - but the path can be boggy in places, so proper boots matter. Most people allow two to three hours up and down. Go in the morning if you can, especially on weekends, because the car park fills quickly and the path gets busy with locals.

Families with kids aged eight and up will manage it fine. Younger children might find the final slog a bit much. Walkers using Firbank Park just three miles away have a real gem on their doorstep - you could easily combine The Strone with a day exploring Aboyne's other walks and lochs. The village itself has decent facilities, a few cafes, and Aboyne Loch Caravan Park sits nearby if you're based there.

Free to visit, naturally. Best avoided in heavy rain when the path turns into a stream. Spring and autumn tend to be best - fewer midges, decent visibility, and the moorland colours are either fresh or golden.