An Sidhean

An Sidhean sits above Oban as one of those peaks that looks modest on the map but rewards you properly once you've got your boots on. The walk up from the town is straightforward enough - steep in patches but nothing technical - and takes about an hour each way if you're moving at a decent pace.

Once you're up there, the views across Oban Bay and out towards the islands are genuinely good. You get the full sprawl of the harbour below, the water, and on a clear day the Hebrides sitting on the horizon. It's the kind of spot where you understand why people chose to live here centuries ago.

This is walkers' territory, really. If you're staying at Argyll Kayaker Cove or Sunnybrae Holiday Park, it's a straightforward morning outing - leave the car in town and walk from there. Kids will manage it fine if they're used to hills, though younger ones might find the steep bits tedious. Most people allow a couple of hours total including the summit potter about.

The real value here is that it's close to Oban proper - you're not committing to a full-day expedition - and it gives you proper mountain air without requiring serious fitness. Come when the weather's cooperating; cloud rolling in from the sea kills the views stone dead, and there's nothing much to do at the summit except admire them.