White Caterthun

The Iron Age fort at White Caterthun sits on a windswept hilltop near Inchbare, and climbing up to it is half the point. You're rewarded with views across Aberdeenshire that stretch for miles - proper expansive stuff. The fort itself is a ring of defensive ramparts, built around 2,000 years ago, and you can still trace the concentric circles of stone and earth that once made this place nearly impenetrable.

Walkers will find this genuinely worthwhile. The hike from the base is bracing but not brutal, taking about 30 minutes if you're steady. Once up top, you get a real sense of why the Picts chose this spot - it's tactically brilliant and the views alone justify the climb. Families with older kids (say, eight and up) will manage fine, though the younger ones might find the climb tedious without proper motivation. There's little interpretation on site, so bringing a guidebook or doing some reading beforehand helps.

It's free to visit and open year-round, though winter winds can be fierce. Allow a good two hours if you're taking time to sit and soak in the landscape. The nearest accommodation, Dovecot Caravan Park, is about six miles away and makes a sensible base for exploring this part of Aberdeenshire's archaeological heritage. White Caterthun pairs well with a broader tour of local Iron Age sites - you're not coming here just for the fort, you're coming for the hiking and the views. The walk is the thing.