Wishach Hill

The walk up Wishach Hill rewards you with proper Highland views across Aberdeenshire, though it's not a dramatic scramble - more a steady tramp through moorland that builds rather than shocks. From Duncanstone, you're looking at an hour's climb, give or take, depending on your fitness and how often you stop to catch your breath. The summit itself isn't particularly dramatic - a modest cairn marking the top - but what makes it worthwhile is the 360-degree perspective across the rolling landscape. On a clear day you can see for miles. On a cloudy one, frankly, it's a bit underwhelming.

This is walker territory, pure and simple. Families with young kids will find it tedious unless they're already keen on hiking. The path is straightforward enough - no scrambling, no technical bits - but it's long enough to test anyone not used to consistent uphill work. Allow yourself a good two hours if you're planning to take it slowly and spend time at the top.

If you're based at Huntly Castle Holiday Park just down the road, this makes a decent half-day outing to get the legs moving. It's free, obviously - just park sensibly near Duncanstone and go. Best tackled in decent weather because the moorland views are what justify the effort; in heavy mist you're basically walking uphill for the sake of it. Worth doing once, but don't expect it to change your life.