Tom a'Bhuraich

The walk up Tom a'Bhuraich from Strathdon is straightforward enough - moorland hiking that doesn't demand technical skill, just steady legs and decent boots. At 901 metres, it's not a bruiser, but the views across the Cairngorms are proper worth the climb. On a clear day you'll see for miles. On a damp one, well, you'll see the cloud.It takes most people two to three hours return, depending on fitness and whether you stop to photograph things. The path starts gentle then steepens as you gain height, so it's not a walk where you can coast. Families with teenagers will manage fine; younger kids might find it a bit much unless they're already used to hills.What makes this one decent rather than just another peak is the isolation. You're far enough from the tourist trails around Aviemore to feel like you've properly got the place to yourself. Weekends see a few more folk, but even then it's nothing like the circus you'll find elsewhere in the Cairngorms. The moorland up top has a wild, austere quality that appeals more if you like landscape over views, though you get both.Free to access, obviously - it's a mountain. Go from April onwards when the ground's less boggy, though the midges in summer can be relentless. Spring or autumn is your sweet spot. If you're based at Cairngorms Glamping nearby, this makes a perfect half-day outing to break up a longer stay. Howe of Torbeg, a few miles further out, offers a quieter alternative if the glamping side doesn't appeal.