Hill of Alyth

The walk up Hill of Alyth is short but steep, and the views across Perthshire make it worth the huff and puff. From the top you're looking out over soft rolling farmland that stretches towards the Sidlaws, with Blairgowrie sitting below like a proper toy town. On a clear day you can see for miles - the kind of landscape that makes you understand why folk have settled here for centuries.

It's not a dramatic peak or anything. The hill itself is modest, more of a local vantage point than a mountain, but that's rather the appeal. You're not fighting crowds or queuing for facilities. It's the sort of place you pop up to in twenty minutes, take some photos, maybe have a sit-down with a flask, then head back down. Kids might find it a bit dull if they're expecting adventure playgrounds, but walkers will appreciate the straightforward route and the payoff at the summit.

The nearest town, Blairgowrie, is just down the road, making this a logical addition to a morning's ramble if you're staying at Five Roads or Nethercraig holiday parks nearby. It works well alongside other local walks in the area. There's no charge and no formal opening hours - it's simply there when you fancy it. Best visited when the weather's behaving, obviously. Rain makes the path slippery and kills the views entirely.