Barn Mòr

The walk up Barn Mòr rewards you with a proper Highland vista - nothing fancy, just good honest mountain views across Argyll that stretch for miles on a clear day. It's a decent hill walk rather than a proper peak-bagger's challenge, which makes it ideal for families who want something more substantial than a park stroll but won't manage a full day's expedition.

From Oban, you're looking at a straightforward approach with well-trodden paths once you find the start. The summit itself is honest terrain - not technical, not dangerous, just a good steady climb that takes most walkers two to three hours round trip. The views back towards Oban and across the Sound of Mull are the real payoff here. On a grey day you'll get cloud, on a clear one you'll see why people come back to this part of Argyll again and again.

Families with older kids (ten-plus, really) will find this one manageable without it feeling like a trudge. Younger ones might struggle with the sustained climb. Walking types will appreciate the straightforward route and the fact you're not queuing for the summit with a hundred others.

If you're based at one of the pod parks closer to Oban - Tanunda or Loch View are both handy - this works perfectly as a morning mission before lunch. It's free, of course, and you can do it any time. Go early to avoid the afternoon cloud that rolls in fast in this part of Scotland.