Cairds Hill

The walk up Cairds Hill rewards you with proper Highland views across Aberdeenshire, and it won't swallow your whole afternoon. From Keith, it's a straightforward ramble that takes most people around an hour or so to the top - nothing too taxing, but enough to feel like you've earned the vista. The summit sits at a decent height without being seriously steep, so it's manageable for most fitness levels.

This is the sort of walk that works brilliantly if you're based at one of the local holiday parks. Both Hillhead Hideaways and Cairnty Lodges are close by, so you can do this as a morning outing without faffing about with long drives. The landscape up there is classic Scottish Highlands - rolling moorland, distant glens, and on a clear day you'll see why people spend good money to stay in the area.

Walkers will get the most from it. It's not a dramatic peak or anything, but it's a solid day out if the weather plays ball. Families with older kids won't find it boring, though younger ones might struggle with the distance. The views aren't quite as spectacular as some of the bigger mountains further west, but for a few hours' solid walking from Keith, it does the job. Bring proper footwear - the moorland can be boggy even when it looks dry.