Càrn Tuairneir

The walk up Càrn Tuairneir isn't particularly long, but it's relentless. Starting from near Grantown-on-Spey, you're climbing steadily through moorland that gets progressively more open the higher you go. By the time you've crested the peak, you've earned yourself proper views across the Cairngorms - on a clear day, you can see for miles over heather and forest.

This is a walker's hill rather than a tourist attraction with facilities. There's no café, no visitor centre, nothing like that. What you get is solitude and space, which honestly feels increasingly rare. The moorland terrain means it's straightforward enough for reasonably fit families, though younger kids might find the exposed sections a bit much on windy days.

Allow a good three hours for the round trip if you're not pushing particularly hard. The best window is May through September when the weather's more cooperative and the midges less murderous.

If you're staying at Grantown-on-Spey Caravan Park, this makes a natural morning or afternoon outing - close enough that you're not spending half the day driving. Pair it with a wander around Grantown itself for a proper day out, or use it as a warm-up for tackling something bigger in the Cairngorms proper. It's genuinely worth the effort if you want mountain air without the technical climbing.