Càrn Eilrig

Càrn Eilrig isn't the sort of summit that gets the crowds. It rises above Aviemore as a proper hill walk rather than a casual stroll, and that's exactly why it's worth doing. The climb takes you through mixed woodland before opening up to moorland, and the views across the Cairngorms are genuinely fine - on a clear day you're looking at Ben Macdui and the high plateau sprawling away to the south.

It's a solid two to three hours round trip depending on fitness, so bring decent boots and water. The path is well-trodden but can get boggy in places, particularly after rain. Walkers will appreciate the straightforward ridge approach and the sense you've actually earned the view at the top. Families with older kids (say, 10 and up) can manage it without drama, though younger ones might find the moorland section tedious.

The real value here is that it feels like a proper hill without requiring technical skill or hours of commitment. You're not fighting crowds like you would on the Ben or Ben Lomond, and the effort-to-reward ratio is decent. Spring and autumn are cracking times - you get clearer views and fewer midges. Winter turns it into a different proposition altogether.

Combine it easily with a few nights at Dalraddy Holiday Park, just down the road near Aviemore. That location gives you access to the broader Cairngorms walking scene without the mad scramble for parking at the main visitor centres. Càrn Eilrig is the sort of walk that reminds you why you came to the Highlands in the first place.