Aberdeenshire stretches from the eastern edge of the Cairngorms to a long, rugged North Sea coast. It is a county of big hills and wide river valleys, castles, forests and clifftops, and it is generally quieter than the Highlands to the west.

Royal Deeside. The River Dee runs through Banchory, Ballater and Braemar, with forest and hill walks leaving from each. Lochnagar, at 1,155 metres, towers over the upper valley, and the Deeside Way follows the old railway line for around 40 miles between Aberdeen and Ballater.

Bennachie and the north-east. Bennachie is the best-known hill in the county, with several waymarked routes up to the Mither Tap, a granite summit at 518 metres. Further north and west, villages such as Alford and Turriff are bases for quieter farmland and woodland walks.

The coast. Stonehaven has a harbour, a clifftop path and the dramatic ruins of Dunnottar Castle just to the south, while further north the coast has long beaches, dunes and sea cliffs.

Weather on the high ground can change quickly, so carry a map, waterproofs and warm layers on hill routes, and keep away from cliff edges on the coast.