Carn Dubh

The walk up Carn Dubh from Fort Augustus is a proper hill rather than a mountain, which makes it exactly right for a half-day outing when you're based at one of the nearby Loch Ness parks. The summit sits at 1,010 metres and the view back down to the loch is genuinely arresting - the water catches the light in a way that makes you understand why people bang on about this place.

It's not a technical climb. The route is steep in patches but straightforward, taking roughly two hours up from the town. You'll want decent boots and should check the weather before heading out - mist rolls in quickly here and there's nothing to see when it does. Most folk manage it easily enough, though it's not the sort of walk you'd drag reluctant teenagers up on a whim.

What works well is pairing it with a night or two at Loch Ness Highland Resort or one of the other holiday parks in the area. You're close enough to Fort Augustus town itself for supplies, and the climb gives you a real sense of the Highland terrain without committing to a full day's expedition. The eastern face offers decent views across the Great Glen if visibility is on your side.

Go early on a clear day. This isn't about the destination - plenty of Scottish hills offer more dramatic scenery - but the walk itself is solid, the views reward effort, and you're back to the campsite in time for dinner. That's the honest sell.