​Quick intros to Britain's favourite hills: this week Dark Lochnagar, monarch of Deeside and a magnet for walkers, climbers and royals in waxed jackets

Height:​1155m

Personality:​ Classic Cairngorm character traits - half rolling plateau, half cliffy corrie. At risk of offending someone, you could also call Lochnagar a stereotypical East Coast Scot - dour and a little serious, with a tendency to keep its best bits hidden.

Which are these best bits? ​The corries, arguably, more than the high ground on top. The northeast corrie in particular is one of Scotland's grandest.

What's in a name? Loch-na-Garr, loch of noise or laughter​

Talking crap... ​The high points, Lochnagar - Cac Carn Beag and Lochnagar - Cac Carn Mor, translate as Little and Big Shit Cairn respectively. The Little one is actually higher by 5 metres.

​Titter Because we've never grown up we can't resist pointing out that subsidiary summits Little Pap and Meikle Pap are Little and Big Breast. That old lothario Byron would have approved (see below).

Who does it? ​A favourite haunt of Aberdonians, for whom it's the nearest decent mountain, Lochnagar attracts walkers from much further afield too, drawn by its winning combination of height, easy plateau walking and stunning scenery. Climbers flock to the massif's two craggiest features: the great north eastern corrie, home to the classic Eagle Ridge and a host of other superb routes (principally in winter); and the mighty Creag an Dubh Loch, a strong candidate for the finest mountain cliff in the British Isles. Down on the lower slopes unsuspecting walkers occasionally report sightings of Prince Charles at one or other of its bothies - his Mum does own them after all.

Pub quiz trivia: ​Struck by the mountain's sublime romance, in 1807 Lord Byron felt moved to poetry (as was his habit):

England! thy beauties are tame and domestic

To one who has roved o'er the mountains afar:

Oh for the crags that are wild and majestic!

The steep frowning glories of dark Lochnagar!

So what's the royal connection? ​Queen Vic and Prince Albert were also much taken with the area, and bought the Balmoral Estate, with Lochnagar at its heart, in 1852. In so doing they helped cement a kitsch Victorian fashion for a theme park version of highland culture that still fuels a lot of the tourist industry today. Balmoral has remained in the royal family ever since.

What's the best route? ​Except as the quickest way to access the corrie crags, the standard trail from Glen Muick doesn't have a lot going for it. Instead come in from Deeside in the north, via the native pine woods of Ballochbuie Forest, wild Coire Loch nan Eun and the interesting scrambly spur of The Stuic (grade 1 in summer; grade I in winter).

Where to stay? Habitat hostel in Ballater looks pretty smart. Slightly further afield there's Braemar Youth Hostel and bunk house accommodation at Braemar Lodge Hotel

And afterwards? Best bet for pubs, cafes etc is Ballater

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