Carn na h-Earbaige Bige

The walk up Carn na h-Earbaige Bige isn't long, but it's proper steep in places and that's half the appeal. You're looking at roughly two hours up and back from the Beauly area, depending on fitness and how much you dawdle at the top taking in the Highland views. The peak itself sits at around 600 metres, so it's not going to wreck you the way a Nevis day would, but your legs will know you've done something.

What makes this one worthwhile is the relative quietness compared to the busier Cairngorms routes. You get proper Highland scenery - open moorland, decent views across to the surrounding peaks, and on a clear day the perspective back towards Beauly and the glens is rather good. The terrain underfoot is moorland and grass, so waterproof boots are non-negotiable even if it looks dry when you start.

This works best for walkers who want a proper outing without needing a full day commitment. Families with older kids could manage it, though younger legs might find the gradient a slog. History types won't find much at the summit itself, but the landscape tells its own story if you know the Highlands.

If you're staying at Cannich Woodland Camping - just five miles away - you've got a cracking base for tackling this. It's the kind of walk that fills a decent afternoon, leaves you ready for an evening pub meal in Beauly, and doesn't demand you sacrifice the rest of your park holiday to recovery time.