Camock Hill

The walk up Camock Hill rewards you with proper Highland views across Aberdeenshire without requiring fell-running fitness or technical gear. It's a straightforward ascent from near Ballater, gaining height steadily through open moorland until you reach the summit and suddenly the landscape spreads out below - the Dee Valley, distant peaks, and on clear days, the sense that you're actually up somewhere. Most walkers manage it in two to three hours return, which makes it ideal if you're camped at Howe of Torbeg or Cairngorms Glamping just down the road.

You won't find crowds here, which is part of the appeal. The path is well-trodden but never feels commercialised. Families with reasonably fit kids will enjoy it; younger children might find the initial grind tedious, but there's nothing dangerous about it. History buffs get less from this one compared to some Scottish peaks - it's landscape and exercise rather than ancient stones and archaeological interest.

Go mid-morning on a day when the weather's settled. Mist rolls in fast in these parts, and there's nothing to see if you're trudging through cloud. The moorland can be boggy after rain, so good boots matter. It's free, obviously - just turn up and walk. If you're basing yourself in the Cairngorms area for a park holiday, Camock Hill fits neatly into a day alongside gentler activities. Worth the effort.