Cnoc nan Darach

The walk up Cnoc nan Darach from Colintraive isn't exactly a slog, but it's not a casual stroll either. This 307-metre peak sits on the Cowal peninsula, and on a clear day the views across to the islands make the climb genuinely worthwhile. You're looking at roughly an hour and a half up, less coming down if your knees cooperate.

What draws people here is the perspective. From the top you get proper views of Loch Fyne stretching out one way and the Clyde estuary the other. On a grey day it's all right, a bit mopey. Come when visibility is decent and it transforms into something special. There's no formal path to speak of - it's more of a boot-worn route through heather and grass, so you need reasonable fitness and proper footwear.

Families with keen walkers will get on with it fine. Young children might struggle with the terrain rather than the distance. The peak itself is just open moorland, so there's no summit building or fancy views platform - which is rather nice, actually. You get what the landscape offers, nothing more.

Glendaruel Caravan Park sits just 3.3 miles away, making this a solid half-day option if you're basing yourself in the area. It works well as part of a Cowal walking trip rather than a destination in itself. Free to climb, obviously. Go on a weekday morning for solitude, or tackle it on the back of exploring Dunoon or the Kyles of Bute nearby.