An Fharaid Mhòr

An Fharaid Mhòr isn't one of those mountains you summit and immediately forget. Rising above the raw landscape of Sutherland, it's a proper brute of a peak - and that's exactly why it's worth the graft. The walk itself is straightforward enough, nothing technical, but the terrain underfoot is bog and heather that'll test your boots and patience in equal measure. Once you're up there, the view reaches across to Ben Stack and back towards the north coast. On a clear day you see for miles.

This one appeals most to fell walkers who aren't looking for scrambles or complicated navigation. It's the kind of hill that separates the folk content with car-park views from those willing to spend three or four hours in the hills. If you're staying at Clachtoll Beach Campsite nearby, it makes a cracking weekend sortie - the campsite itself is excellent, right on the beach, so you can swap mountains for sea air the next day.

Timing matters here. The midges from June through August can be absolutely vicious, so spring or autumn is more pleasant. Allow a full afternoon, maybe five hours return depending on fitness and how long you linger at the summit. There's no fee and no formal access issues, though this is wild country - you need proper kit and map sense. Winter brings snow and serious mountain conditions.

Not flashy. Not Instagram-obvious. But if you're exploring Sutherland properly, An Fharaid Mhòr gives you honest Scottish hill walking without the queues.