Cnoc Mòr

The walk up Cnoc Mòr is properly straightforward, which makes it all the more baffling why more people don't do it. This modest peak sits just a few miles outside Oban, offering views across the Firth of Lorn that genuinely justify the effort - even though the effort isn't much.

You're looking at roughly an hour's walk to the top from the nearest parking, and the path is well-worn without being overcrowded. On a clear day, you'll see Mull, Lismore, and the Atlantic spreading out before you like someone's unfolded a proper map. The views southward toward the Garvellachs are excellent too. On a damp Scottish day, which let's be honest happens often, cloud can roll in quickly, so timing matters.

Historically minded walkers will appreciate the Bronze Age cairn at the summit - a proper reminder that people have been coming up here for millennia. Families with older kids will manage it without fuss. The young ones might flag on the descent, but that's walkers for you.

If you're based at Sunnybrae Holiday Park or Argyll Kayaker Cove, both within a few miles, this makes an excellent half-day outing. Combine it with time on Oban's front or a kayak trip from your lodging, and you've got a solid day mapped out. It's free to walk and there's no specific season - though winter tends to be properly wet and boggy underfoot.