A' Chruach

The climb to A' Chruach summit rewards you with views across the Firth of Clyde that frankly take your breath away - and not just from the exertion. At 453 metres, it's the sort of peak that feels properly satisfying without requiring mountaineering kit or a full day's commitment.

The walk itself is manageable for most fitness levels, though the final stretch gets a bit steep and you'll want decent boots if it's been wet. Allow around two hours return from the car park, depending on how many times you stop to stare at the view. The panorama sweeps across to the Cowal Peninsula and on clear days you can pick out islands dotted across the water.

This works brilliantly as part of a wider Isle of Arran trip. If you're based at Kings Caves Glamping - just a few miles away - it's an ideal morning outing before lunch. The glamping spot itself is close enough that you won't spend hours driving to the trailhead. Families with older kids (say, ten plus) will enjoy it; younger ones might find the uphill slog tedious unless they're keen walkers already.

Go on a clear day, because cloud cover renders the whole endeavour rather pointless. The summit itself is exposed, so even if the view's obscured by mist, you're standing in wind with nothing to look at. Early morning tends to offer the clearest skies and fewer people, which is always a bonus on Arran.