Bàt a' Charchel

The walk up Bàt a' Charchel is properly steep, but the effort pays off once you're standing on the summit with the Stirling landscape laid out below you. It's a sharp peak rather than a gentle stroll - expect to use your hands on the way up and feel genuinely exposed at points. The views stretch across the Scottish Lowlands on a clear day, and you can see why this became a landmark for the region.

This is a walk for people who actually like walking, not a casual amble. You're looking at a couple of hours round trip if you're reasonably fit, longer if you go carefully. The path can be boggy lower down and loose stone higher up, so decent boots matter. There's no café at the top, no visitor centre, no facilities - just the hill itself.

If you're staying at one of the glamping sites nearby - Endrick Escape and Arcadia are both within three miles - this works as a proper outdoor activity that justifies a day away from the tent or pod. It's close enough to Glasgow for a weekend trip, but far enough away that you actually feel like you've left the city. Families with older kids who've done a few hills already will manage it. Younger children might find it tedious.

Go in dry weather. Go early. The peak itself is small so you won't want to linger if it's windy, but on a settled morning it's worth the scramble.