Bàrr na Gile

The walk up Bàrr na Gile isn't advertised much, which is precisely why it's worth doing. This modest peak sits just inland from Oban, and on a clear day the views back towards the coast are genuinely excellent - you can see right across to Mull and beyond. It's not a slog. Allow roughly two to three hours for the round trip depending on fitness, and the path, whilst steep in places, is straightforward enough.

This one suits walkers after a proper hill without committing to a full day on the moors. Families with older kids will manage it fine; those with toddlers might find it frustrating rather than fun. The real draw is the sense of having discovered something properly Scottish - no queues, no visitor centre, just you and the landscape.

Start early if you can. Weather in Argyll changes quickly, and you'll want clear skies for those views to justify the effort. The nearest town is Oban, which sits right on the coast, so this fits nicely into a broader park-based holiday. Oban Holiday Park is barely over a mile away if you're staying there - close enough that you could easily do this as a morning walk before heading elsewhere. Tanunda Pods and Maggie's Cabin, both just a few miles out, are also good bases for exploring this corner of Argyll.

Free to walk, naturally. Go when the midges aren't out, which basically means May through September if you're lucky. Worth the detour from Oban, but only if you've got two or three hours and decent weather on your side.