Beinn Dubh

Beinn Dubh rises straight out of Argyll with the kind of no-nonsense Scottish attitude you either love or find exhausting. At 548 metres, it's a proper hill rather than a mountain, which means you can bag it in a couple of hours without needing ropes or a support team. The walk starts near Alexandria and gives you views across Loch Lomond - on a clear day you can see right across the water to Ben Lomond itself, which makes the effort feel worthwhile.

It's a hill for walkers who actually want to walk, not for those after a gentle stroll. The terrain is rough heather and loose scree in places, and the path isn't always obvious, so bring an OS map and decent boots. You'll spot folk tackling it most weekends, usually in groups, and there's something companionable about that. Families with experienced younger walkers will manage it fine; toddlers will have a genuinely miserable time.

Free to climb, of course - that's the beauty of Scottish hills. Allow three to four hours round trip depending on fitness and how often you stop for photos. Go early in the day when the light's best and the weather's most likely to behave.

If you're staying at Inverbeg Holiday Park nearby, Beinn Dubh makes a solid afternoon expedition without requiring a drive. It sits perfectly on the edge of proper Loch Lomond territory, so you can combine it with water-based days at the loch itself. Not the most famous peak in Argyll, but that's exactly why it's worth doing.