Little Ord

Little Ord sits just outside Banchory, a modest peak that doesn't trouble the map much but rewards a walk with proper views across Deeside. It's the sort of hill that doesn't take hours to bag - most people manage the ascent in under two hours from the car park, making it ideal if you've got an afternoon free rather than a full day committed.

The walk itself is straightforward enough, climbing through woodland before opening out to scrubland and heather. Nothing technical, just steady gradient. You'll get sight lines across to the broader Cairngorms when the weather plays ball, and on a clear day it's well worth the leg work. The summit's bare and functional rather than dramatic, but that's rather the point - you're here for the walking and the views, not for any grand architectural statement.

Families with older kids will find this manageable. Younger ones might flag on the slope up, so pack snacks and take it slow. It's the sort of walk where you can potter at your own pace without feeling rushed. Banchory itself is a proper little town with tea shops and supplies, so you can make a half-day of it easily.

If you're staying at Feughside or Banchory Lodge, Little Ord works as a morning sortie before breakfast or a late-afternoon ramble. Pair it with exploring the Deeside area - Aboyne Loch is nearby if you fancy something flatter after the climb. Free to walk, obviously, and best visited between late spring and early autumn when the paths aren't boggy.