Carn an Tuairneir

The walk up Carn an Tuairneir takes you high enough to escape the crowds but not so high that your legs are screaming by lunchtime. It's one of those Scottish peaks that rewards effort without demanding mountaineering experience - roughly an hour and a half from Inverness if you're staying in town, and the views across the Highlands spread out below justify every step.

The summit itself is modest but proper scenic. On a clear day you get the full panorama - lochs glinting in the distance, the surrounding glens dropping away beneath you, and that particular quality of light that makes the Highlands look almost unreal. The approach is straightforward enough for families with older kids who don't mind a steep grind, though younger ones might find it tedious. Walkers will appreciate the relative lack of tourist infrastructure - this isn't Ben Nevis territory.

Allow two to three hours for the round trip including breaks at the top. There's no charge, no facilities, no visitor centre nonsense. Bring proper boots and check the weather first - exposure on the upper sections means cloud can roll in fast. Early morning or late afternoon light works best for photos, which is when you'll have the place nearly to yourself.

If you're based at Loch Ness Holiday Park or Cannich Woodland, this fits nicely into a morning expedition before heading back for lunch. It's the kind of walk that reminds you why people bother coming to the Highlands in the first place.