Tom an Uird

The walk up Tom an Uird rewards you with views across the Cairngorms that make the slog worthwhile. It's a proper Highland peak - nothing dramatic, but the kind of hill that gives you real perspective on the landscape around Grantown-on-Spey.

You're looking at a straightforward hill walk rather than anything technical. The ascent is steady and the path is generally decent underfoot, though it can get boggy in places depending on the season. Allow two to three hours for the round trip, depending on fitness. The summit itself isn't dramatic - no dramatic cairn or panoramic café - but that's almost the point. You get honest Scottish hill country without the crowds you'd find on the big named peaks.

This one suits walkers who want a proper outing without needing to book a guide or worry about scrambling. Families with decent hill legs will manage fine, though younger children might find the bog sections a bit tedious. The real appeal is the solitude and the way the views open up as you climb - you're seeing Speyside spread below you, and on a clear day the Cairngorms proper come into sharp focus.

Based at Grantown on Spey Caravan Park, you're ideally placed for this walk. It's local enough for a half-day adventure, leaving you time to explore Grantown itself or venture further into the Cairngorms National Park. October and November can be particularly good - weather's often clearer and the tourists have thinned out.