Beinn Bheag

The walk up Beinn Bheag from Kinlochleven isn't long, but it's relentless. You're climbing 655 metres in under three miles, which means your thighs will know about it by the summit. What makes it worth the graft is the view south across Loch Leven - on a clear day you can see right down towards Glen Coe, and the water below sits like a mirror reflecting whatever the sky's doing that morning.

This is a proper hillwalker's peak rather than a leisure stroll. You need decent boots, time to spare (allow three to four hours return), and ideally not gale-force winds. The path is reasonably well-trodden but steep enough that you won't find many tourists milling about halfway up. If you're staying at Blackwater Hostel or Cannich Woodland just outside town, it's an ideal afternoon mission - close enough to base yourself locally without needing to drive far.

Families with younger kids should think twice. The ascent is unrelenting and there's nowhere to stop for a proper breather without turning back. But for anyone halfway fit who wants Scottish Highland views without committing to a full Ben Nevis effort, Beinn Bheag delivers. The summit cairn is modest but the sense of achievement is genuine. Go early, take water, and watch the weather - it changes fast up here.