Fourman Hill

Fourman Hill rises abruptly from the Aberdeenshire landscape near Huntly, offering one of those straightforward hill walks that rewards you properly without requiring mountaineering skills. The summit gives you proper views across the Highlands - on clear days you can see for miles. It's not a technical scramble, just a steady climb through moorland that takes the better part of an hour depending on your pace.

This is ideal if you're staying at Huntly Castle Holiday Park and fancy a half-day adventure that won't exhaust younger walkers or reluctant hikers. The terrain is fairly open, which means you feel the wind up there, but you also avoid getting lost in thick woodland. Families with kids aged eight and up will find it manageable, though the bog sections after rain can slow things down.

Go in decent weather - the views are the whole point, and cloud cover ruins the experience entirely. Early morning or late afternoon light makes the moorland glow nicely. Allow three hours round trip if you're taking photographs and having a break at the top. Free to access, obviously. There's no café or facilities at the summit, so bring water and a packed lunch if you're making a day of it.

It's a solid way to stretch your legs between exploring the castle and other attractions in the area. Not dramatic or famous enough to detour specially for, but absolutely worth tackling if you're already based locally.