Cnoc Eille Mor

The walk up Cnoc Eille Mor isn't particularly dramatic - it's a modest Highland peak that won't feature in any mountaineer's memoirs. But that's rather the point. From the top, you get a genuine sense of the landscape rather than fighting crowds, and on a clear day the views across the surrounding glens are properly worth the effort.

The ascent from near Beauly takes a couple of hours depending on fitness and how much you dawdle. It's steep in places but nothing technical. The terrain alternates between boggy moorland and rockier stretches - bring decent boots. You'll pass through scrubby vegetation and heather, and the higher you climb, the more the valley floor drops away beneath you.

Historically minded walkers might get something from the fact you're treading ground that's been travelled for centuries, though Cnoc Eille Mor itself won't throw up obvious ruins or dramatic stories. This is for people who want a proper walk without the crowds you'd find on Ben Wyvis or other better-known peaks. Families with confident young walkers will manage it, though restless toddlers might find the moorland stretches monotonous.

It's free to climb, obviously, and worth fitting into a longer Highland stay. Beauly Holiday Park sits just a few miles away and makes a solid base - the town itself has decent facilities. Highland Premier Glamping Pods are a touch further but the 5-star rating speaks for itself if you fancy something more upmarket. Go early, bring water, and expect Scottish midges in summer.