Cùl Mòr

The walk up Cùl Mòr is a proper slog, but the payoff is worth every burning calf muscle. This 849-metre peak sits alone in the Northwest Highlands, roughly an hour's drive from Strathpeffer, and commands views across Ben More Assynt and towards the Summer Isles. What strikes you first is the isolation - there are no crowds here, just you, the wind, and occasionally some bewildered mountain goats.

The ascent takes about two hours each way from the car park at Knockan Crag, tracking through moorland before the terrain gets properly steep. It's not technical, but it's relentless, and the scree near the summit will test your ankle stability. The views from the top stretch for miles - genuinely humbling if the weather cooperates. On a clear day, you'll pick out lochs, glens, and that distinctive peaked profile of Ben More standing guard to the south.

This is walkers' territory, full stop. Families with young children will struggle; the exposed sections aren't ideal for unpredictable legs, and there's no shelter if conditions turn. Experienced hillwalkers, though, will find exactly what they came for - rewarding terrain, zero development, and the kind of solitude that's increasingly hard to find on popular Scottish peaks.

Combine it with a stay at Beauly Holiday Park, just down the road, and you've got a solid base for exploring Assynt's wilder corners. Allow a full morning or afternoon; the walk itself is straightforward navigation, but the mountain demands respect and decent boots.