Tom an Lagain

The walk up Tom an Lagain starts properly steep - there's no easing into it. This 339-metre peak sits just outside Ballater in Royal Deeside, and from the summit you get views that justify every heavy breath: the Cairngorms roll out to the west, and on a clear day you can pick out Ben Avon and the broader sweep of the highlands.

It's not a long climb - maybe forty minutes to an hour depending on fitness and how often you stop to catch your breath. The path is well-trodden and obvious enough that you won't spend time lost, though it does get boggy in places. Walkers who want something achievable without a dawn start or serious scrambling will find their people here.

The real appeal is the efficiency of it. You're not committing to a full-day expedition, yet you get genuine highland scenery and that proper buzz when you reach the top. Families with older kids can manage it; younger ones might struggle with the sustained climb. Go in decent weather - cloud will rob you of the whole point.

Free to access, no gates or barriers. Most sensible folk allow two hours there and back. If you're staying at Ballater Caravan Park or Howe of Torbeg nearby, this is the kind of walk that fills a morning perfectly well before lunch. The proximity to Ballater also means you're never far from a café if the weather turns.