Tillyhilt

A proper hill walk rather than a casual stroll, Tillyhilt rises near Ellon and rewards the effort with views that stretch across Aberdeenshire. The summit isn't dramatic - you won't find yourself perched on a knife-edge ridge - but the moorland terrain and visibility make it feel more substantial than the height suggests. Most walkers tackle it in a couple of hours return, though that depends entirely on your pace and how often you stop to look back at where you've come from.

This is a hill for people who actually like walking, not Instagram hunters. Families with older kids will manage fine if they're used to uneven ground. Younger ones might find the ascent tedious without much spectacle at the top to justify the graft. The approach from Ellon isn't complicated, but it's worth getting proper directions before you head out - it's not the sort of place where you'll stumble upon a well-marked path.

If you're based at Ythan Valley Campsite just 3.6 miles away, Tillyhilt works as a morning mission before settling in elsewhere. It's the kind of walk that feels good to get done early, leaving the afternoon free for the easier parkland trails in the area. Come in decent weather - the exposed moorland won't forgive heavy rain, and visibility matters more here than on fussier peaks. Free to visit, obviously. Just turn up and walk.