Hill of Findon

The walk up Hill of Findon isn't long, but it's proper steep in places and rewards you with views across the Moray Firth that stretch for miles on a clear day. You're looking out toward the Grampians inland and across to the coast - it's the kind of vantage point that makes sense why locals have been tramping up here for generations.

It's a brisk thirty-minute climb from Findon village, just outside Banff, and you don't need any special kit beyond decent boots. The path gets boggy in patches - bring gaiters if you've got them - but the terrain is manageable for anyone with reasonable fitness. Families with older kids will find it straightforward enough; younger ones might need a hand on the steeper bits.

What makes it worthwhile is the isolation. You'll rarely see crowds, even in summer. This feels like countryside that belongs to the locals, not the tourist trail. On windy days it can be bleak, almost austere. On calm mornings it's genuinely lovely - that's when you'll spot the red grouse and the occasional golden eagle if you're lucky.

If you're staying at Gamrie Bay Caravan Site just down the road, or one of the glamping spots like Clochforbie Yurts or Shepherd's Loch, this is an ideal morning sortie before heading into Banff for lunch. It won't take your whole day, but it'll clear your head and give you a proper sense of the Aberdeenshire landscape. Fair weather only, mind - the mist rolls in fast here.