Cnoc Clach na Ciste

The walk up Cnoc Clach na Ciste is short enough to fit between breakfast and lunch, but steep enough that you'll feel properly earned your view. It's a Marilyn - one of those Scottish peaks that don't make the big lists but absolutely hold their own once you're up there. The summit sits just off the Isle of Mull's eastern flank, and on a clear day the sight of Loch Sunart sprawling out below, backed by Ben Resipol on the mainland, makes the huffing and puffing worthwhile.

The approach takes roughly ninety minutes up and back, depending on fitness and how often you stop to catch your breath. It's rough underfoot in places, boggy in others, but nothing technical. Families with older kids will manage it fine; younger ones might find the steepness a bit much. What you're really after here is the view rather than the scrambling - it's a proper viewpoint rather than a challenge.

There's no visitor centre, no café, no facilities at the summit. Bring water and something to eat. The best conditions are May through September when the midges aren't quite so vicious, though even then they can be persistent on still days.

If you're staying at Island Pods nearby, it's an easy morning out that leaves the afternoon free for exploring Mull's coastal paths or tackling something bigger like Ben More. As hill walks go, it's unassuming but genuine - the kind of thing that reminds you why you came to Scotland in the first place.