Hill of Kennerty

The walk up Hill of Kennerty near Banchory gives you proper views across Aberdeenshire once you've done the graft. It's not a massive peak - more of a solid hill walk than a mountain expedition - but the effort feels worthwhile when you reach the top and the landscape opens out around you.

The ascent itself is straightforward enough. You're looking at a couple of hours return from the base, depending on your pace and how often you stop to catch your breath. The terrain is manageable for anyone with reasonable fitness, though it can be boggy underfoot after rain, so proper boots aren't optional. Families with older kids will cope fine; younger ones might find it a bit much.

Walkers will get the most from this one. If you're after dramatic scenery or rare rock formations, you'll be disappointed - it's more about the leg-stretching and the satisfaction of a straightforward hill day. History buffs won't find much to grab onto either.

The real advantage is how it slots into a broader Deeside holiday. Base yourself at Banchory Lodge Caravan Park or Silverbank - both are highly rated and only a few miles from the start - and you've got this walk as part of a bigger itinerary. It's the sort of thing you'd do mid-week when the weather's decent, not your main event but a solid way to spend a morning. Free to access, obviously - it's a hill.