Carn Dearg SE Top

The walk up Carn Dearg SE Top isn't technically the highest point around Newtonmore, but it's the one that delivers proper views without requiring a full mountaineering expedition. You're looking at a reasonably straightforward ascent from the glen floor - nothing that'll break you, but steep enough in places that you'll feel you've earned the summit.

What you get is a cracking vantage point over the Monadhliath Mountains. The cairn itself is modest, which somehow makes the landscape feel even bigger. On a clear day the perspective across the Highlands is genuinely impressive. It's not a dramatic rocky peak - more a well-defined grassy hill with attitude. Most walkers manage it in a couple of hours, depending on pace and how much time you spend standing about admiring things.

This is one for hillwalkers who don't want to commit to a full day's expedition. Families with older kids capable of a solid couple of hours will get on fine with it. The nearest towns are Newtonmore itself - a sensible base for this region - and you're well placed for exploring the wider Monadhliath range if you've got the legs for it.

Stay at Laggan Glamping or Invernahavon Caravan Park just down the road, and you've got yourself a proper walking base. The weather up here changes fast, so pick your day carefully. Dry conditions make all the difference to the experience.