Queen's Hill

The walk up Queen's Hill rewards you with proper panoramic views across Deeside - on a clear day you can see right down the valley towards the Cairngorms. It's not a demanding climb, which makes it ideal if you're based at one of the caravan parks around Aboyne and fancy a couple of hours stretching your legs without needing full hiking kit.

What you get is a rounded summit with heather moorland underfoot and the River Dee winding through the landscape below. The view alone justifies the walk, though it's the kind of spot where you'll either love the solitude or find yourself wishing for a bit more to do once you reach the top. No café, no facilities - just you and the Highlands.

Start early if the weather looks promising, because this isn't the sort of hill that rewards a trip in mist. The path is straightforward enough, though it can be boggy in places after rain. Allow about ninety minutes up and down depending on your pace. Families with older kids will manage it fine; younger ones might struggle with the pace.

If you're staying at Aboyne Loch Caravan Park or Firbank Park - both excellent bases - Queen's Hill works brilliantly as a half-day expedition. It ties in neatly with the broader Deeside walking scene without requiring you to drive far. Tarland Camping Club Site is slightly further out but equally convenient. Worth doing on a decent weather day, though not worth battling through cloud for.