Cnoc a' Choire Mhoir

The walk up Cnoc a' Choire Mhoir rewards you with proper Highland views across Loch Gairloch and the surrounding moorland. It's not a dramatic peak - more of a hill walk that takes a couple of hours there and back from the road near Gairloch - but the panorama justifies the effort.

You get a genuine sense of remoteness here without needing mountaineering skills. The terrain is rough underfoot, heather and grass, and the path isn't particularly well-marked, so decent boots and map knowledge are essential. Weather can turn quickly, as it does everywhere in the Highlands, and visibility can disappear in minutes.

Walkers will find this far more worthwhile than families with young children. There's nothing at the summit except the views, and the scramble up the final section is steep enough to frustrate kids who've been promised an easy stroll. If you're camped at Sands Caravan & Camping near Gairloch, though, it's a logical half-day outing that doesn't require driving elsewhere.

Go on a clear day - that's the only caveat. Scramble up in cloud and you've hiked to nowhere in particular. The walk's free, obviously, just park responsibly near Gairloch and head for the ridge. Early morning or late afternoon light is worth timing for, though midges can be a proper nightmare in summer. It's not your most dramatic Highland peak, but if you're in the area and the weather's behaving, it's a solid few hours outdoors.