Beinn Dubh

The walk up Beinn Dubh is straightforward enough - a proper hill rather than a mountain, which means you're not signing up for an Alpine expedition just because you fancied a bit of fresh air. From Arrochar, it takes about two hours to reach the top if you're moving at a steady pace, and the views across Loch Long and towards Ben Vorlich make the effort feel worthwhile rather than gratuitous.

This is walkers' terrain. Not scrambling, not technical, just honest hillwalking with decent paths and enough elevation to make your legs know they've done something. On a clear day you get proper panoramas - the kind that remind you why people moved to Scotland despite the weather. On a grey one, well, you'll still feel like you've earned a decent coffee back in the village.

It suits families with older kids who can manage a few hours on their feet without complaining, and solo walkers who want something achievable without needing ropes or special kit. The trail isn't crowded, which is refreshing if you're tired of queuing behind groups of five abreast on better-known peaks.

Stay at one of the nearby holiday parks - Loch Lomond Holiday Park is close enough to make this a proper half-day outing, or pair it with Forest Holidays Ardgartan's woodland setting if you want something quieter. The walk itself is free, and there's no entrance gate or formality about it. Best tackled in the morning when visibility tends to hold up better, and bring a waterproof because this part of Scotland doesn't do favours with the weather.