Beinn Tarsuinn

The walk up Beinn Tarsuinn isn't especially long, but it's steep enough to earn respect. You're climbing roughly 900 metres from the valley floor, and the path gets properly testing in places - nothing technical, just relentless. From the summit you get that rare thing: a 360-degree view that actually justifies the effort. On a clear day the Irish coast sits on the horizon, and you can see right across Arran's ridge if you're lucky with the weather.

This is fundamentally a walker's hill. It's not a casual stroll, and young children would struggle unless they're used to mountain days. But if you've got teenagers or you're fit walkers yourselves, it's brilliant - takes maybe three to four hours return depending on your pace. The path is well-trodden and marked enough that you won't get lost.

Arran itself makes this trip viable as part of a longer stay. You're looking at ferrying from Ardrossan on the mainland, which adds a day in itself, but once you're over there the island rewards proper exploration. Kings Caves Glamping sits just a few miles away and is the sort of base that works well for this kind of hiking - you can plan your day around the weather and still have comfortable accommodation to return to.

Visit outside school holidays if you can. The path gets rammed in July and August, and part of the experience is having space to breathe up there. Spring or early autumn are spot on.