Hill o' Wangie

The Hill o' Wangie rises abruptly from the Aberdeenshire landscape near Forres, a modest summit that punches above its weight once you've made the climb. It's not dramatic - no jagged peaks or Alpine views - but the effort rewards you with proper Highland vistas rolling toward distant mountains, and on clear days the perspective across to the Moray Firth is genuinely worth the trek.

Walkers will get the most from this one. It's a straightforward ascent, nothing technical, taking somewhere between 45 minutes to an hour depending on your pace and the mood of your knees. The path is reasonably well-trodden but can be boggy after rain, so decent boots matter. Families with teenagers will manage it fine; younger kids might find it a slog without the payoff of a café or visitor centre at the top.

What makes it useful is how it slots into a wider Highland rambling schedule. You're not far from Forres itself, and if you're basing yourself at The Loft Glamping & Camping up the road, it's an easy morning sortie that doesn't eat your whole day. The hill works as a warm-up walk before tackling bigger expeditions, or as a standalone leg-stretcher if you're between activities.

Free to access, obviously - there's no gate or barrier. Best visited when the midges aren't out in force, so spring or autumn tend to feel less miserable. Summer can be lovely, but go early to avoid the worst of the biting insects.