Ben Bhraggie

The walk up Ben Bhraggie is shorter than you'd think, but steep enough to make your legs complain. This isn't a day-long expedition - more like an afternoon's decent graft from Dornoch, which sits just down the road on the coastal plain. The summit rewards you with proper Highland views across the Dornoch Firth, and on a clear day you can see for miles across moorland and water.

It's the kind of peak that works well for families with older kids or anyone wanting a genuine hill experience without needing crampons and a tent. The path is straightforward, even if the gradient is unforgiving in places. Allow two to three hours return, depending on fitness. There's no café at the top, so bring water and a packed lunch if you're planning to linger.

Walkers and landscape photographers will rate this highly. It's not a gentle stroll through parkland - this is proper climbing on open hillside. The real appeal is the isolation. You won't find crowds here like you do on Ben Nevis or Cairngorm.

If you're staying at Grannie's Heilan' Hame Holiday Park over in Sutherland, Ben Bhraggie slots in well as a half-day excursion before heading to Dornoch for fish and chips. Free to climb, naturally. Go early in the day if weather's decent - the Highlands can turn in minutes, and you'll want to be down before dark.