Whiteash Hill

You'll see Whiteash Hill marked on maps around Keith, and it's worth the detour if you're already walking in the Aberdeenshire hills. The climb itself is straightforward - nothing too technical - and the payoff is a proper view across the Highlands rolling away in layers. On a clear day you can pick out distant peaks; on a Scottish drizzly one, you get that moody, intimate feel where the landscape seems to press in around you.

This is one for walkers, especially those who want a half-decent outing without committing to an all-day expedition. Families with older kids manage it fine. Younger ones might grumble on the way up - it's not dramatic enough to hold their attention, if I'm honest - but the open moorland at the top lets them burn energy freely.

There's no visitor centre, café, or facilities, so bring water and something to eat. It's free to access, obviously, and you can spend anything from ninety minutes to three hours depending on your pace and how long you loiter at the top. Best in late spring through early autumn when the ground isn't boggy and the light holds longer.

If you're based at Hillhead Hideaways or Greencraig Pods nearby, Whiteash works well as a morning walk before heading to bigger attractions. It's a solid local hill rather than a showstopper, which is exactly what some people want.