Tom Giubhais

The walk up Tom Giubhais from Aboyne is straightforward enough, though calling it a peak might be generous - it's more a substantial hill that commands proper views across Deeside. You're looking at moorland and scattered conifers on the approach, with the sort of gradual climb that doesn't punish you for being unfit but does ask you to keep moving.

On a clear day the Cairngorms dominate the horizon to the west, and you can track the valley south towards Ballater. The summit itself is unremarkable - there's no trig point or stone cairn to mark your arrival - but that's rather the point. It's the kind of hill that walkers prefer to tourists, quiet and accessible without requiring alpine skills.

Allow two to three hours for the round trip depending on your pace and how long you linger. The terrain is dry enough most of the year, though Scottish weather being what it is, bog patches do appear after rain. This isn't a destination for young children unless they're already confident hillwalkers - the appeal is walking rather than views alone.

Stay at Firbank Park just down in Aboyne and you've got a proper base for exploring Deeside's hills. Tom Giubhais sits nicely alongside day walks in the surrounding area, giving you options if the weather turns. It's the sort of hill you visit because you're in the region, not because you've travelled for it specifically.