Creag nam Ban

The walk up Creag nam Ban from Ballater is proper steep and relentless, but that's rather the point. You're climbing a Corbett - one of Scotland's mountains between 2,500 and 3,000 feet - and the path wastes no time gaining height through moorland and rough grass. Allow three to four hours for the round trip depending on fitness.

What you get for the effort is a panoramic view across Royal Deeside that justifies every laboured breath. On a clear day you can see right across the Cairngorms; in cloud, well, you're above it. The summit itself is modest - just a cairn and some space to sit - but the 360-degree perspective of Aberdeenshire's best landscape is genuinely special. Walkers who like a proper challenge without needing ropes or technical skills will find this rewarding. Families with older kids keen to claim a mountain can manage it, though younger legs might struggle with the sustained gradient.

The nearest town is Ballater, a small and pleasant base on the River Dee. If you're staying at Howe of Torbeg or Ballater Caravan Park - both solid options, three to four miles away - this makes an excellent day out that pulls you up onto the high ground without requiring serious mountaineering experience. Start early to beat afternoon cloud. Proper boots essential; the terrain is boggy in places and the exposure makes wet ground hazardous. Free to walk, naturally, but this is wild country - respect it accordingly.