40 Epic Hills Near Aberdeen To Climb
This post lists the best smallest hills near Aberdeen. In the summer when the days start to stretch out, there is a great opportunity to bag a Sub-2000 after work.
In addition, the hills make a perfect morning or afternoon out for anyone who is coming from Aberdeen and beyond. The hills have excellent views across the countryside in Aberdeenshire, as well as the Cairngorms National Park and the North Sea.
Hill of Dunideer
Height: 268 metres (879 feet)
The Hill of Dunideer is a prominent local landmark with an ancient hillfort. It is believed that the remains are of one of the earliest castles in Scotland, dating back to 1260.
From the summit, you might be able to recognise the Hill of Christ’s Kirk, the summits of Bennachie and Tap o’Noth. The route from Dunideer layby to the summit and back is 5 kilometres long and takes 1.5 hours to complete.
Scolty Hill
Height: 299 metres (981 feet)
Scolty Hill is a hill near Crathes, five minutes from Banchory. The best place to start this hike is at the Scolty Woodland car park.
There are impressive views from the summit across the Royal Deeside and the Grampian Mountains. You will be able to spot Morven and Mount Keen on clear days.
On the summit, there is a 20-metre tower with a spiral staircase that you will use to get to the top of the tower. The tower was built in 1840 as a monument for General William Brunett who fought with Wellington in the Napoleonic Wars.
The is a short 3-kilometre walk which takes 2 hours to complete.
Hill of Christ’s Kirk
Height: 311 metres (1,020 feet)
Hill of Christ’s Kirk is a small hill which offers lovely views across the countryside and the hill fort ruins on neighbouring Dunideer. There is a good walk from Insch Railway Station through Beatrice Community Woodland.
From the summit, you will be able to point out Bennachie in the east. Towards the west, you can see the pyramid shape of Tap o’Noth.
The Bin
Height: 312 metres (1,023 feet)
The Bin Forest is located northwest of Huntly. To get to the hill summit, you can follow the yellow waymarkers which take 1.5 hours to complete.
As you climb, you will pass a pool called the gallon of water. According to local legend, a dousing in the pool could cure children of whooping cough.
Meikle Tap
Height: 349 metres (1,145 feet)
Meikle Tap is one of the easternmost summits of the Hill of Fare. The route is 7 kilometres long and takes almost 2 hours to complete.
Starting point is at the Hill of Fare Car Park. You can also walk to Greymore (394 metres).
Clashmach Hill
Height: 375 metres (1,230 feet)
Clashmach Hill features a stunning ridge located southwest of Huntly. Market Muir Car Park is located in Huntly and is the starting point for the walk.
The walk is over 7 kilometres long and takes two hours to complete. As you ascend the hill lovely views open out towards Ben Einnes.
There is a cairn at the summit which marks the peak. From the summit, there are lovely views of Huntly, Tap o’Noth and Bennachie.
Hill of Tillymorgan
Height: 381 metres (1,250 feet)
The walk starts at Kirkton Farm in Kirton of Culsalmond. At the beginning of the walk, you will pass an old church and graveyard which is great to explore you start the walk.
As you begin to gain height, there are lovely views opening up behind you towards Bennachie. Also, you will be able to spot the Buck and Mount Keen.
To get to the summit it will take over 30 minutes, allow at least one hour for the while walk.
Craigendarroch
Height: 402 metrres (1,319 feet)
Craigendarroach is such a wonderful place to be. You can do a circular walk up the hill which is 4 kilometres long from Ballater, Cairngorms National Park.
Craigendarroch may not be one of the tallest hills in the Cairngorms, however, it is still challenging in some places. Craigendarroch is now a National Nature Reserve and it is famous for its oaks until the 18th century.
The views are extremely rewarding and you can see the grand hills from the top. On the way, there are lots of seating, benches and some information plaques.
Millstone Hill
Height: 409 metres (1,341 feet)
Millstone Hill is a lesser-known southern neighbour of Bennachie. The best place to start for this walk is the Donview Forestry car park.
From Donview Forestry Car Park the circular walk takes two hours to complete. Donview Forestry Car Park has an artist’s studio gallery and smaller waymarked trails.
From the summit, there are extensive views across Lochnagar and dramatic views of Mither Tap.
Strathfinella Hill
Height: 414 metres (1,358 feet)
Strathfinella Hill is a forested hill which rises above the flat farmland between Glensagh and Auchenblae. You can climb this hill from North Drumtochy Woods.
Cairn William
Height: 448 metres (1,469 feet)
Cairn William lies south of the Bennachie range in Pitfitchie Forest. An extensive forest on the lower slopes and mountain trails have been constructed around and over the hill.
To get to the summit and back it is a 16-kilometre route which takes approximately 4 hours to complete. On the way, you will pass the Whitehills Stone Circle.
As you gain height and reach the summit there are excellent views of Correen Hill, the coast of Aberdeenshire and Bennachie.
Hill of Foudland
Height: 467 metres (1,532 feet)
The Hill of Foundland has been extensively quarried for slate. The route to the summit and back is 14 kilometres long and takes almost two hours to complete.
Hill of Fare
Height: 471 metres (1,545 feet)
The Hill of Fare is located a few miles north of Banchory. The hill can be approached from the south for 14 kilometres there and back route.
A shorter route option includes tackling the hill from the north side. This route is only 6.5 kilometres long and takes 1.5 hours to complete.
Craiglich
Height: 476 metres (1,561 feet)
Craiglich is a rounder hill located on the eastern edge of the Howe of Cromar. The starting point is approximately 45 minutes away from Aberdeen.
The track leaves through the countryside which leads to views across Morven, Lochnagar and Pressendye. In addition, there are views of the Bennachie and Mither Tap from the summit.
On the summit, you can see the OS trig point which lies beside the partially-collapsed beehive memorial. The Queen View is close to where the starting point of the walk is, this was Queen Victoria’s favourite viewpoint which is en route to Balmoral.
Craigshannoch
Height: 480 metres (1,574 feet)
Craigshannoch translates roughly to ‘hill of the foxes’. It is one of the Bennachie Hills and the starting point is the Back O’Bennachie car park.
Halfway down the summit is a rocky arete known as Harthill’s Cave. Harthills Cave is where Leith, Laird of Harthill hid while he watched his castle burn many years ago.
Watch Craig
Watch Craig: 489 metres (1,604 feet)
Watch Craig is a mountain summit in the River Don in the Kinnaird Head region. The walk to the summit takes in the pine forests, heather moorland and rocky granite.
From the summit the nearby peaks of Craigshannoch, Mither Tap and Millstone Hill. Watch Craig can be completed as a circular route with Oxen Craig and Mither Tap.
Walking through Bennachie will take almost three hours.
Benaquhallie
Height: 494 metres (1,621 feet)
Benaquhallie is one of the highest summits in the Corennie Mor. This peak is located between Strathdon and Deeside.
There is a 10-kilometre out-and-back route to follow which takes just under three hours to complete.
Bennachie
Oxen Craig: 529 metres (1,732 feet)
Mither Tap: 518 metres (1,699 feet)
Bennachie has two high peaks, Oxen Craig and Mither Tap. ‘Mither Tap’ and ‘Bennachie’ translate to Mother Top and Hill of the Breast.
Oxen Craig is the highest summit of Bennachie and is a popular trip for many people who come from Aberdeen. The hills and forests around have a rich history with many battles, monuments, myths and legends.
The walk begins at Back a’Bennachie car park, located on the B9002 west of Oyne. The beginning of the route follows the brown waymarked Quarry Trail path before crossing a stream.
On the way to Mither Tap from Oxen Craig, you can spot the remains of an iron age fort. To climb the two hills it will take 3 hours to walk the length of the six-mile route.
There have been a few aircraft crashes on Bennachie over the past few years, you can learn about these and see parts of the wreckage in the visitor centre.
The starting point is a 40-minute drive from the centre of Aberdeen.
Kerloch
Height: 534 metres (1,751 feet)
Kerloch is one of the highest hills in the foothills of the Mounth Range, lying east of the Cairn o’Mount. The route is ten kilometres long and is three hours long.
On the ascent, there is beautiful forest scenery and views looking back to the Hill of Fare. At the summit, walkers should be able to pick out the Clachnaben and Mither Tap.
Tap o’Noth
Height: 563 metres (1,847 feet)
Tap o’Noth is a lovely hill which is the site of the second-highest hillfort in Scotland. There are impressive remains and splendid views of the Aberdeenshire countryside.
From the Tap o’Noth car park to the summit and back, the route is 5 kilometres long and takes 2 hours to complete. Along the way, there are epic views of the summit of The Buck and Morven.
The fort is believed to have been 1000 and 3000 years old. There is little left of the fort, you can make out a ring of rubble and boulders.
Clachnaben
Height: 589 metres (1,932 feet)
Clachnaben is approximately a one-hour drive from Aberdeen. From Clachnaben Quarry Car Park the route is 9 kilometres long and takes the average walker approximately three hours to complete.
As you climb superb views open out across much of Aberdeenshire including Bennachie and Mither Tap. Clachnaben is a good hill for those who are not quite ready to tackle a Munro.
Keen hikers can also add Mount Shade (507 metres) and Threestane Hill onto the route.
Pressendye
Height: 619 metres (2,030 feet)
Pressendye has magnificent views across Donside and Deeside. The starting point is in Tarland which takes under one hour to get there from Aberdeen.
The Buck
Height: 721 metres (2,367 feet)
The Buck is also known as The Buck of Cabrach located on the border of Aberdeenshire and Moray.
The Buck is the easternmost of the Ladder Hills in the East Grampians. There is a couple of options to complete this Fiona Hill.
There is a shorter there and back route which takes 2 hours to complete the 4.6-kilometre route. Alternatively, there is a longer 9.8-kilometre circular route which takes over 3 hours to complete.
From the summit, there are good views of Ben Rinnes, the Tap o’Noth and the North Sea.
Mount Battock
Height: 778 metres (2,552 feet)
Mount Battock is a Corbett which can be bagged from Glen Esk. From Aberdeen, it takes approximately 1 hour to get to the starting point.
The route is 15 kilometres long and takes four hours to walk. Along the way walkers will follow the Burn of Turret, and great views will open up across Glen Esk.
From the summit, you will have the chance of spotting the Angus Munros called Mount Keen and Driesh. In addition, there are mesmerising views across Aberdeenshire including the summits of Mither Tap and Clachnaben.
Morven
Height: 872 metres (2,860 feet)
Morven is a Corbett located on the fringe of the Cairngorms in Aberdeenshire. From Aberdeen, the dive to the starting point for climbing the Morven is just over an hour long.
The route is 9 kilometres long and takes four hours to complete. At the beginning of the route, you will pass an abandoned farmhouse, boulders and scattered young trees.
From the summit, there are lovely views over Bennachie, Mither Tap, Clachnaben, Mount Keen and Lochnagar.
15 Short Hill Walks Near Aberdeen
The second section of the post lists the best short hill walks near Aberdeen. All of the hills listed below and under 200 metres high, therefore make an excellent walk for everyone.
The hills are listed from smallest to tallest. There is always a great outdoor walk suitable for everyone near Aberdeen.
Broad Hill
Height: 28 metres (92 feet)
Broad Hill is a small summit in the city of Aberdeen between Queens Link and Kings Link Golf Course. There are excellent views back down to Aberdeen Beach and the North Sea in Aberdeen Bay.
The route from Queens Link is 1.1 kilometres long and takes 15 minutes to complete. The trail is great for hiking, running and walking.
Broad Hill has an interesting history as it was the site of a bombing in World War II during the Aberdeen Blitz. On the wall of Trinity Cemetery at Park Road there is evidence of shrapnel damage.
Tilly Tenant
Height: 34 metres
A hill summit located on the islands of Cape Wrath. You can find the summit between Stonehaven and Aberdeen on the North Sea coast.
Tullos Hill
Height: 83 metres (272 feet)
Tullos Hill is located on the coast south of Aberdeen. The name Tullos most likely derives from Scottish Gaelic, and is believed to be the translation for hill.
This is a great route to get fresh air and enjoy the scenery of the North Sea and the city. Also, there are remains of Bronze Age cairns to be seen.
Kincorth Hill
Height: 92 metres (301 feet)
The route to the summit of Kincorth Hill is a 4.3 kilometres circular trail which takes on average one hour to complete. The route takes you through Kincorth Hill Local Nature Reserve and it is a perfect hill for hikers and runners.
From the summit, there are views are far as Peterhead in the north and Lochagar in the southwest with Deeside in the west.
Oldman Hill
Height: 109 metres (357 feet)
Oldman Hill is located south of River Dee in Oldman Wood. Oldman Wood is not far from the A90 Aberdeen Bypass.
The best place to start your walk is Maryculter Woods Car Park which is a 20-minute drive from Aberdeen. Kirton of Maryculter is also worth exploring, ‘the nest’ is a lovely feature in the woods.
Logie Hill
Height: 115 metres (377 feet)
Logie Hill is a hill in the River Don to Kinnaird Head region. The woods where Logie Hill is situated is north of Aberdeen Airport, west of the A947.
From Aberdeen, it is a 20-minute drive to Logie Woods.
Catcraig Hill
Height: 131 metres (429 feet)
Catcraig Hill is located in Catcraig Woods, near Kingseat and Balmedie, north of Aberdeen. The drive from the centre of Aberdeen takes approximately 20 minutes.
Beans Hill
Height: 146 metres (479 feet)
Beans Hill is located north of Peterculter on the west side of the Aberdeen Bypass. It is one of the Grampian Mountains and is the tenth-highest hill in Aberdeen City with little prominence.
The starting point is a 25-minute drive from Aberdeen.
Craigingles
Height: 159 metres (521 feet)
The summit of Craigingles is located in the woods and it is a fairly short enjoyable walk. The wood is located between Aberdeen and Portlethen.
It is a steep route, however, it can be enjoyed by walking anti-clockwise to avoid it feeling too steep. The route is almost 2 kilometres long and takes 30 minutes to complete.
Clochandighter
Height: 166 metres (544 feet)
Clochandighter can be ascended as part of a circular route. The circular route is 2.7 kilometres long and takes approximately 50 minutes to complete.
Clochandighter Woods is located southwest of Aberdeen and is a 20-minute drive from the centre of Aberdeen.
Cloghill
Height: 201 metres (657 feet)
Cloghill is a mountain summit between Dee and Don in the region of the county of Aberdeen. The summit is located between Westhill and Kingswells, west of the Aberdeen Bypass.
Cloghill typically takes 20 minutes to drive from Aberdeen City Centre.
Elrick Hill
Height: 202 metres (663 feet)
Elrick Hill is one of the peaks in the chain of hills between Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. Brimmond Hill is in the south and Tyrebagger Hill is in the north across the A96 dual carriageway.
Elrick Hill is enclosed by trees therefore the views are restrictive. The route begins at Clinterty Woods East car park and the route features the scenic Elrick Hill Country Park.
Kingshill
Height: 213 metres (698 feet)
Kingshill is a hill summit located in Kingshill Wood between the Dee and Don region in the county of Aberdeenshire. Kinghill Wood is a 20-minute drive west from the centre of Aberdeen.
Tyrebagger Hill
Height: 250 metres (820 feet)
The walk up Tyrebagger Hill takes almost two hours and is 4.25 miles long. The starting point is at Kirkhill Forest Car Park.
On the summit of Tyrebagger Hill, there is a cylindrical stone viewing tower with a spiral staircase known as the Tappie Tower. The Tappie Tower was built as a folly by Dr William Henderson.
Brimmond Hill
Height: 266 metres (872 feet)
Brimmond Hill is described as a heathery dome which is located on the northwest fringe of Aberdeen. The route is 2.9 kilometres long and takes approximately one hour to complete.
The peak is decorated with various masts and other paraphernalia. There are excellent views on offer over the city of Aberdeen and the North Sea.
Final Note
There are many great hills near Aberdeen which will be good for you to tackle for your next hike. Also, there are plenty of alternatives if you are not ready to tackle a Munro.
This post lists the best 40 hills near Aberdeen to climb. Fifteen of these hills are considered short, local, and not very prominent.
The views from the hills near Aberdeen are lovely, you can see as far as the Cairngorms and North Sea. Make sure to be prepared for climbing mountains, for example, check the weather before you go and wear good comfortable footwear.
Also, you can head a little further in Scotland, there are plenty of hills near Dundee, hills near Edinburgh and hills near Glasgow.