An Cabar

An Cabar rises above Strathpeffer like a proper Highland hill should - steep, no-nonsense, and absolutely worth the climb. It's a modest peak by Scottish standards, but that's rather the point. The walk up rewards you with views across the Black Isle and out towards the Cromarty Firth, the kind of vista that makes the leg-burn worthwhile.

This is a straightforward hill walk, not a scramble. Allow roughly an hour and a half from the car park near Strathpeffer to the summit and back down. The path is well-trodden, which means it can be boggy in wet weather - waterproof boots are non-negotiable. Families with older kids manage it fine; younger ones might find it a slog.

What makes An Cabar genuinely useful is location. You're staying at Highland Heights Luxury Glamping just down the road, and this gives you a proper walk without needing to drive an hour north to something more dramatic. It's the sort of hill where you actually feel the Highlands rather than just seeing them from a car. The scrambled section near the top is brief and mildly technical if you're not used to it, but nothing alarming.

Go early if possible - the morning light hits the firth beautifully, and you'll dodge the afternoon folk. Free, naturally. Best in autumn when the bog's had a dry spell and the light turns the landscape golden.