Tom Breac

Tom Breac sits at 2,316 feet in the Cairngorms, a proper hill rather than a mountain, but one that rewards the walk with views across Aberdeenshire's higher reaches. From Strathdon, you're looking at a few hours to reach the summit and back - straightforward enough if you're used to Scottish hills, though the ground can be boggy and the weather turns fast up here.

The appeal is subtle rather than dramatic. You won't find the jaw-dropping vistas of some bigger peaks, but there's something satisfying about the remoteness of it. Walkers who prefer solitude to crowds will get more from this than casual hikers chasing Instagram moments. It's the sort of hill where you actually notice the landscape change as you climb - moorland giving way to rougher terrain, then that moment when everything opens out below you.

If you're staying at Cairngorms Glamping & Campsite just down the way, Tom Breac makes a logical half-day outing. Go early to beat the light, bring proper waterproofs, and don't underestimate how exposed it is. There's no cafe at the top, obviously. The nearest facilities are back in Strathdon.

It's not going to thrill thrill-seekers, and small children will likely find the slog tedious. But for experienced walkers wanting a less-trampled route through the Highlands, it's well worth the effort.