Ben Wyvis - Glas Leathad Mòr

Ben Wyvis rises above Strathpeffer like a proper statement. At 3,429 feet, Glas Leathad Mòr - that's the main summit if you want to be technical about it - offers the sort of Highland views that make you understand why people move here permanently and never leave.

The walk itself is reasonably forgiving by Scottish standards. Most folk start from the car park near Garve and tackle it in four to five hours, give or take. The ascent doesn't feel relentless, which helps. You're walking through moorland that opens up as you climb, and on a clear day - which this part of Scotland actually gets more often than you'd think - you can see all the way to the North Sea. Cairngorms to the south, mountains rolling north into Ross and Cromarty.

History types won't find crumbling castles here, but there's something about these old ridges. Walkers will absolutely get their money's worth. Families with teenagers keen on proper hills rather than gentle strolls should manage it fine, though younger kids will struggle with the distance.

It's free to climb, obviously - there's no gate-keeping in the Highlands. Allow a full day if you're not super fit, and go earlier rather than later. Weather turns fast, and you want decent light for the descent.

If you're basing yourself at Highland Heights nearby, Ben Wyvis makes a cracking day out without needing to drive miles. Strathpeffer itself is handy for supplies and a decent pub afterwards.