Buachailean

The walk up Buachailean is a proper workout, but from Dunoon it's one of those peaks that rewards effort without demanding mountaineering skills. You're looking at a straightforward hill walk that takes most people three to four hours for the round trip, with decent views across the Firth of Clyde once you've hauled yourself to the top.

It's the sort of walk that appeals to keen hill walkers wanting something achievable without needing a full day out. The path is clear enough in decent weather, though it gets boggy in places - bring proper boots. Family groups with older children can manage it, but younger kids might struggle with the distance and gradient.

What makes this one worth doing: on a clear day the views across to the Cowal Peninsula are genuinely excellent, and there's something satisfying about tackling it as a morning walk and being done by early afternoon. The approach from Dunoon is straightforward enough. Conditions matter though - in mist you're just walking through cloud, and that takes the shine off things.

If you're staying at Beach House Pods nearby, this fits nicely into a day that might also include a stroll around Dunoon itself or exploring the coastal paths in the area. It's free to walk, naturally - just park sensibly and respect the land. Not a must-do, but a solid choice if you've got the legs for it and the weather's on your side.