Hill of Megray

The walk up Hill of Megray rewards you with proper Highland views across Aberdeenshire. It's not a massive peak - the scramble takes most people between 45 minutes and an hour - but the vista stretching toward the coast near Stonehaven makes it worth the leg work. On a clear day you can pick out the landscape rolling down toward the North Sea.

This is walker territory, pure and simple. Families with young kids might find it a bit much, though capable legs of eight or nine upwards would manage it fine. The ground underfoot is typical Scottish moorland - boggy in places, firm in others - so proper boots matter. There's no visitor centre, no facilities at the top, just you and the countryside.

The nearest town is Stonehaven, about five miles away, which means it's an easy trip from any of the local caravan parks. Stonehaven Queen Elizabeth Park sits just a mile off, making it a natural base if you're planning a few days walking in the area. Upper Crawton Park and Cloak Caravan Park offer alternatives slightly further out, though all three rank highly with visitors.

Go on a weekday if you can - weekends pull in more hikers and it loses some of its solitude. Allow a couple of hours if you want to take your time at the top with a packed lunch and actually soak in the views rather than rushing back down. Free to access, as most Scottish peaks are.