Beinn nan Cailleach

The walk up Beinn nan Cailleach from near Inverness is a proper leg-burner, but the payoff from the summit is worth every aching calf. At just over 700 metres, it's not mountaineering territory, yet the climb feels substantial enough to feel like an achievement. The name means 'Mountain of the Old Woman' in Gaelic, and there's something appropriately dramatic about the ridge and the views that open up as you gain height.

On a clear day - and you'll want one of those - you can see right across to Ben Wyvis and towards the Moray Firth. The Highland landscape sprawls out in every direction, all heather and distant peaks. The walk itself takes a couple of hours up, a bit less coming down if your knees are cooperating. It's not a technical climb, but it's steep enough in sections that you'll want reasonable boots and a decent level of fitness.

Walkers and hill enthusiasts will absolutely get the most from this one. It's a genuine hill day, not a stroll. Families with younger kids might find it a bit relentless, though teenagers with some hiking experience would manage fine. There's no fee and no facilities at the top, so bring water and snacks.

It pairs nicely with a stay at Tomatin Glamping Pods just down the road - you could knock out a proper morning climb and still have time for an afternoon walk elsewhere. The proximity to Inverness makes it accessible without the trek you'd need for the bigger Cairngorms peaks.