Càrn na Loinne

The walk up Càrn na Loinne rewards you with one of those views that justifies leaving the caravan early. It's a proper hill rather than a mountain - 2,355 feet of moorland and heather that takes most people a solid couple of hours to bag. The approach from near Grantown-on-Spey is straightforward enough, though you'll want decent boots because the ground gets boggy in places, especially after rain.

What makes this worthwhile is how it sits you right into the Cairngorms landscape without demanding technical skill. On a clear day the vista spreads across ridge after ridge of Scottish hills - it's the sort of panorama that makes you understand why people kept coming back to this corner of the Highlands. Walkers will get the most from it; families with energetic teenagers can manage it too, though younger kids might find the moorland trudge a bit monotonous.

The beauty of basing yourself at Grantown on Spey Caravan Park is that you're less than four miles from the start. You can be on the summit by mid-morning, back for lunch. There's nothing to pay, no gate to find, no opening hours to fret over - just turn up with a map and decent weather. Allow three hours if you're not rushing, and go early to dodge the crowds on weekends. The peak gets quietly popular with locals.