Wrights Hill

The walk up Wrights Hill near Forres rewards you with views that stretch across Aberdeenshire and into the Scottish Highlands proper. It's not a major peak by any stretch - you're looking at a modest climb that takes most people around an hour there and back - but the vantage point is genuinely useful if you want to understand the landscape you're moving through.

What you get is exposure. From the top, the topography of the region reveals itself clearly. You can trace the lie of the land toward the higher hills beyond, pick out the towns and settlements scattered below, and on a clear day the views open up considerably. The path itself is straightforward and doesn't require scrambling or special kit, which means families with older kids and regular walkers will find it accessible enough.

Go midweek if possible - weekends tend to attract enough locals to make the summit feel slightly crowded, though "crowded" is relative in this part of the world. Early morning gives you better light and thinner crowds both. Allow two hours total if you're not moving quickly or want to sit and take it in properly.

If you're staying at The Loft Glamping & Camping a few miles south, Wrights Hill works well as a morning sortie before or after your base. It's the kind of walk that gets you properly outdoors without consuming your whole day, which matters if you've got plans elsewhere in Aberdeenshire. Not essential, but genuinely worthwhile if you're in the area.