Glen Clova and Glen Doll

Of all the Angus glens, Glen Clova - which in the north becomes Glen Doll - with its stunning cliffs, heather slopes and valley meadows, is the firm favourite of many. Wildlife is abundant, with deer on the mountains, wild hares and even grouse and the occasional buzzard. The meadow flowers on the valley floor and arctic plants (including great splashes of white and purple saxifrage) on the rocks also make it something of a botanist's paradise.

The B955 from Dykehead and Kirriemuir divides at the Gella bridge over the swift-coursing River South Esk; six miles north of Gella, the two branches of the road join up once more at the hamlet of CLOVA, little more than the hearty Glen Clova Hotel (tel 01575/550350, www.clova.com; £50-60), which also has a refurbished bunkhouse (£9.50 per night). Meals and real ale are available in the lively Climbers' Bar at the side of the hotel.

North from Clova village, the road turns into a rabbit-infested lane coursing along the riverside for four miles to the car park and informal campsite in GLEN DOLL, a useful starting point for numerous superb walks. From the car park, it's only a few hundred yards further to the SYHA hostel (tel 01575/550236, www.syha.org.uk; May-Sept), a restored hunting lodge that boasts a squash court along with the usual facilities and is typically busy with climbers and youth groups.