Cnoc Glas

The walk up Cnoc Glas from Ullapool takes you into proper hill country without the pretension of the bigger peaks. It's a steady climb through moorland with views that open up gradually rather than all at once - which somehow makes them feel more earned. You'll see across to the Summer Isles on a clear day, and the light changes constantly depending on what the weather's doing, which it will be doing several things at once.

The summit itself isn't dramatic - no jagged ridge or stone cairn drama - just a modest high point where you can sit and take in the expanse of sea and mountain. Allow about two to three hours for the round trip depending on your pace and how many times you stop to look at the view. Walkers will find it manageable without needing scrambling experience, though the underfoot terrain is typical Highland boggy in places. Families with kids aged 10-plus would manage it, though younger ones might find the descent tedious on the way back.

It's well worth doing if you're based at Port a Bhaigh Campsite, which sits just a couple of miles away near Ullapool. You could knock this out in a morning and still have the afternoon free for the village itself or exploring the coast. The real appeal here is that it doesn't feel crowded or over-polished - you're essentially climbing a local hill that doesn't make it onto the tourist radar. That's precisely why it works.