Beinn Sgulaird

The pull-off near Appin gives you a proper view of what you're dealing with before you commit - a steep, heather-clad peak that juts up 3,195 feet with surprisingly dramatic presence for its modest height. Beinn Sgulaird doesn't muck about. The ascent from the A828 takes roughly three to four hours up and back, depending on fitness and how many times you stop to catch your breath on the upper slopes.

What makes it worth the slog is the panorama from the top. On a clear day - and you'll need one - you're looking out over Loch Creran, the Morvern Hills, and on really favourable days, Ben Nevis sitting far in the distance. The paths are reasonably well-trodden but boggy in patches, so decent boots aren't optional. Early morning visits pay dividends; I've seen the whole glen wrapped in mist by mid-afternoon.

This is a walker's hill, full stop. Not a casual stroll, not a family picnic spot - if your legs can handle it and you don't mind the weather turning on you, you'll have a cracking time. History buffs might appreciate the Highland terrain itself, but there's nothing of archaeological note up there.

If you're staying at Creagan Station Tourers - just 5.3 miles away - you couldn't ask for a better day hike from base camp. Oban Camping and Caravanning Club Site is slightly further but still well-positioned if you're doing a broader Argyll walking tour. Allow a full morning or afternoon, bring a map, and don't assume good weather just because it's fine at car level.