Walk Scolty Tower, Banchory, UK

The walk up Scolty Tower takes about forty minutes from Banchory town centre, and it's genuinely one of the best short outings in Aberdeenshire. The tower itself - a sturdy stone structure built in the 1820s to commemorate a local landowner - sits atop Scolty Hill at 1,100 feet, giving you proper views across the Dee Valley and west towards the Cairngorms when the weather plays ball.

It's not a technical climb by any means, but it's steady going. The path winds through woodland before opening out onto moorland, and the final push to the tower has a bit of a gradient to it. Allow two hours there and back if you're not rushing, or longer if you want to linger at the top. The summit is brilliant for a flask of tea and a sandwich, especially on clear days - visibility stretches for miles.

Families with reasonably fit kids will manage it without drama. It's the sort of walk where older children actually want to reach the destination, rather than getting bored halfway. History buffs get a kick out of exploring inside the tower, though there's not much to it - just the structure itself and the views.

Free admission, no fixed hours. Good year-round, though winter can be boggy underfoot. If you're staying at Banchory Lodge Caravan Park or Feughside just down the road, this makes a cracking afternoon out. Combine it with a wander round Banchory itself afterwards - decent wee town for a browse and a bite.