The Blair

The Blair rises up from the Aberdeenshire landscape as a proper hill walk - nothing fancy, nothing overly strenuous, but genuinely worth the trip if you're staying anywhere near Laurencekirk. The summit view sweeps across the Scottish Highlands with reasonable clarity on a decent day, and you get a real sense of the terrain in this corner of the northeast.

It's the kind of walk that works well for families with older kids and serious walkers alike. The climb takes somewhere between ninety minutes and two hours depending on fitness, and the path itself is straightforward enough - no scrambling or technical bits to worry about. The real appeal is the panorama at the top rather than the walk itself, if I'm honest. On a grey day it feels a bit underwhelming; get it right with decent weather and you'll understand why locals keep coming back.

There's no charge to walk it and no facilities at the summit, so bring water and a packed lunch if you fancy stopping up there. Early morning is best if you want to avoid the midweek crowds - weekends can feel a bit busy for what is essentially a modest hill.

If you're camped at Dovecot Caravan Park or Royal Arch Riverside Park, both within striking distance of Laurencekirk, The Blair makes a solid morning out without eating your whole day. Pair it with a proper village walk in Laurencekirk itself and you've got a decent Highlands day sorted.