Bennachie (Mither Tap)

Bennachie is Aberdeenshire's best-loved hill, and its distinctive tor-topped summit, the Mither Tap, is a granite crown ringed by the remains of an Iron Age fort. It is a fine inland alternative to the county's crowded and often restricted coast. Forestry and Land Scotland manages several waymarked car parks around the base, with the Bennachie Centre and Back o' Bennachie the usual starting points for the well-trodden path to the top. You can capture excellent footage from lower on the hill without a full ascent, but the summit itself offers a commanding drone panorama across the Garioch farmland, the Don valley and, on a clear day, the Cairngorms to the west. The granite tor makes a strong foreground element for orbiting shots. Aberdeen Airport lies roughly twenty-seven kilometres to the south-east, comfortably clear of its FRZ, and airspace here is otherwise open. The hill is popular with walkers and families, particularly at weekends, so launch away from the summit crowds and keep your aircraft clear of people on the path. Wind accelerates over the exposed tor, so watch your margins. Heather-purple slopes in late August and clear winter mornings are the standout conditions.