Cnoc Snàtaig

The walk up Cnoc Snàtaig from Drumnadrochit takes you high enough to feel properly remote without needing a full day's commitment. It's a modest peak by Highland standards - nothing that will wreck your knees - but the payoff is a panoramic view across Loch Ness and the surrounding glens that makes the effort worthwhile.

This is a straightforward hill walk rather than a technical climb. Most people tackle it in two to three hours round trip, depending on pace and how long you linger at the top. The terrain is grassy underfoot with the occasional boggy section - nothing unexpected for the Highlands. Weather rolls in quickly up here, so check the forecast before you go and bring a waterproof even on a seemingly clear morning.

Families with older children will manage it fine. Younger kids might find it a slog, though the views tend to distract them at the summit. History buffs won't find much up there - this is purely about the landscape and the walking - but it's an excellent addition to a Loch Ness holiday if you want something more active than the visitor centre.

Staying at Loch Ness Glamping or Highland Premier Glamping Pods puts you within striking distance for an early start. Both are close enough to Drumnadrochit that you can park up and be on the path by mid-morning. The walk itself is free, naturally - just turn up and go. Best visited in decent weather; fog here is genuinely thick and defeats the point.