Core Hill

The walk up Core Hill from Inverurie isn't particularly long, but it's steep enough that you'll feel it in your legs. The summit sits just over 300 metres, giving proper 360-degree views across Aberdeenshire - on a clear day you can see right across to the Cairngorms. It's the sort of hill that looks modest from town but rewards you properly once you're up there.

Walkers will get the most from this one. It's not a ramble for toddlers, and the paths can be boggy after rain, but anyone who can manage a decent hillside in under an hour should be fine. Allow about 90 minutes return if you're not rushing. The views across the Don Valley are genuinely good, and the heather gives it character.

What makes Core Hill work as part of a longer Aberdeenshire trip is its proximity to Inverurie itself - you're not driving hours into the wilderness. If you're based somewhere like Glamping Bothie just down the road, it's a cracking way to burn an hour and get above the landscape rather than walking through it. The moorland setting feels properly wild compared to the lowlands, but without requiring serious mountaineering kit.

Go in late summer when the heather's out. Spring's wet and miserable. Autumn's lovely but the days are short. It's a free walk - no car park fees or hidden charges - just park sensibly near the trailhead and get going.