Beinn a Mhanaich

The walk up Beinn a Mhanaich is properly rewarding without being brutally hard - it's the kind of hill that gives you real views without requiring a dawn start or special gear. You're looking at roughly two hours up from Arrochar, following a decent path that climbs steadily through bracken and heather with Loch Long stretching out below you. The summit sits at 779 metres, and on a clear day you get a proper sense of where you are in the Arrochar Alps - Ben Vane and Ben Vorlich dominate the horizon, and the loch cuts through the valley like a grey ribbon.

Walkers after a proper hill day without the slog will find this one hits the sweet spot. It's not something that'll bore kids halfway up, but it's not so technical that tired legs turn into a nightmare either. You'll want three to four hours total if you're taking your time and not racing.

Timing matters here - early morning takes the crowds, and you want decent visibility to make the effort worthwhile. If you're based at Inverbeg Holiday Park or Forest Holidays Ardgartan just down the road, this makes a cracking afternoon or morning circuit before a pub lunch back in Arrochar. Both parks are only five miles away, so you're not spending half your day driving. The walking season runs well from spring through autumn, though winter can be muddy and the path less forgiving. Go when the weather's set fair rather than hoping it'll clear.