A' Chruach

The walk up A' Chruach from Dunoon is straightforward and rewarding - you're looking at a couple of hours return from the town, which makes it ideal for a half-day outing when the weather's decent. The peak itself sits at around 440 metres, so it's no Munro, but the views across the Firth of Clyde more than compensate for the modest elevation. On a clear day you can see right across to Bute and beyond, which justifies the effort.

It's the kind of walk that suits families with older kids and anyone after some proper exercise without needing an early start or technical gear. The path is well-trodden and mostly straightforward, though it does get a bit muddy in patches. Allow an extra half-hour if you're with younger legs or anyone not keen on steep sections - there are one or two pinches on the way up.

Stay at Stratheck Holiday Park or Loch Eck Caravan Park, both within easy reach of Dunoon, and you've got a proper base for exploring the area. This walk pairs well with time spent in Dunoon itself, and it's the sort of thing that breaks up a week nicely without demanding an entire day's commitment. Worth doing in the morning before the weather turns - and up here, it often does.