Meall na h-Imrich

The walk up Meall na h-Imrich isn't on everyone's radar, which is precisely why you should go. This 901-metre peak sits just outside Pitlochry and rewards you with proper highland views without the crowds you'd battle on Ben Vrackie. The ascent takes roughly two hours from the car park at Faskally, and it's a straightforward trudge rather than technical - steep in places, but nothing requiring scrambling or ropes.

On a clear day the views stretch across the Tummel Valley towards the Cairngorms. Midges can be absolutely vicious in summer, so time your visit for spring or autumn if you've got sensitive skin. Winter transforms it into something more serious - slippery scree and snow mean you'll want proper boots and navigation skills.

This works brilliantly if you're basing yourself at one of the nearby parks like Faskally Woods or Parkdean Resorts Tummel Valley. You get the hill experience without driving more than twenty minutes, and it's manageable for fit teenagers and adults who don't mind a solid morning's work. Parents with younger kids might find other peaks around Pitlochry more forgiving.

The real appeal is the solitude. You'll likely share the summit with nobody, unlike the honeypots further afield. Bring waterproofs - the weather changes fast in Perthshire - and plan for three to four hours total if you're being leisurely.