Ben Bouie

The climb up Ben Bouie rewards you with views across Loch Lomond that justify the effort, though it's not a peak that will take your breath away in the dramatic sense. Located just outside Alexandria, this modest hill sits at 874 metres and makes for a solid half-day walk rather than a full expedition. The ascent is straightforward enough - there's a clear path most of the way up, though the final push gets properly steep. Allow three to four hours there and back if you're taking it at a sensible pace and stopping to admire the Loch.

Who'll get the most from it? Walkers staying at one of the nearby parks - Loch Lomond Retreat is your best bet for accommodation - will find this far less crowded than Ben Lomond itself. Families with older children can manage it, though younger legs might struggle with the final scramble. History types won't find much up here beyond what the landscape tells you about how the glaciers carved out the Loch below. The real draw is the view: on a clear day you can see right down the water towards Balloch, and the surrounding hills give proper perspective on why this part of Argyll matters.

Bring water and a decent map - there are no facilities on the hill. Free to climb, of course. Avoid midges if you can by sticking to autumn or spring. It's not overrated exactly, but it is fairly unforgiving if the weather turns, so check the forecast before you head up.