Tips of Clunymore

The walk up to Tips of Clunymore starts unremarkably enough, but once you reach the summit near Keith, the Aberdeenshire landscape just opens up beneath you. It's not a long slog either - proper achievable for most fitness levels, though the final push gets a bit steep. The views across the Highlands are genuinely worth the effort, especially on clearer days when you can make out the glens stretching away for miles.

Historyfolk will find the old slate tips themselves interesting - remnants of quarrying that shaped this area. It's not dramatic like some Scottish peaks, but there's something honest about the place. No crowds, no gift shop, just you and the view.

Realistic time allowance is a couple of hours up and down, so it works well as a morning activity if you're staying at Hillside Havens nearby. The park is only 2.6 miles away, making this a natural fit for a peak-bagging weekend in the region. Families with older kids will manage fine, though younger ones might find it a bit of a trudge. Summer gives you better light and longer daylight hours - winter can be muddy and miserable.

Bring proper boots rather than trainers, and don't rely on your phone for navigation once you're up there. Free to visit, naturally. If you're combining it with other Highland walking, this works as a decent warm-up before tackling anything more serious.