Craigangowan

Rising above the Balmoral Estate in Aberdeenshire, this 517-metre hill offers a regal perspective over the Dee Valley. The terrain is typical of the eastern Highlands, featuring well-maintained estate tracks that wind through Scots pine and open heather, providing a straightforward ascent with clear views toward the formidable mass of Lochnagar.

• •The name is derived from the Gaelic Creag nan Gobhainn, which translates to 'Crag of the Smiths', suggesting historical metalworking or forging took place in the glens below.
• •Located within the private grounds of the Balmoral Estate, the hill is a central feature of the 'Royal Cairns' walk, a circuit of monuments erected by Queen Victoria and her descendants.
• •The summit provides a celebrated bird's-eye view of Balmoral Castle's turrets and the winding River Dee as it flows east toward Ballater.
• •While the most famous landmark in the area is the large stone pyramid of Prince Albert's Cairn on neighbouring Craig Lurachain, Craigangowan offers a quieter vantage point for observing the transition from forest to open moorland.
• •It is perhaps one of the few hills in Scotland where you are statistically more likely to be overtaken by a Land Rover carrying a member of the Royal Family than a fell runner in Lycra.