Coille Mhor Hill

The walk up Coille Mhor Hill takes you out of Alexandria and straight into proper Loch Lomond country. It's not a massive undertaking - most people will be up and down in a couple of hours - but the views across the loch and towards the Trossachs make it well worth the effort.

You're looking at a straightforward hill walk rather than technical climbing. The path is generally clear, though it can get muddy in places, particularly after rain. The real reward comes at the top: the loch spreads out below you, and on a clear day you can see right across to Ben Lomond itself. It's the sort of view that stops you in your tracks for a moment.

This suits walkers and families with decent fitness levels. Young kids might find the climb tedious, but teenagers who've got their legs under them will manage fine. History types won't find much up there beyond the landscape itself, but that landscape tells its own story - you're looking at terrain that's been shaped by ice ages and human settlement for millennia.

Allow two to three hours all in. Early morning is best if you want to avoid the crowds and catch the light hitting the loch properly. It's free to walk, naturally.

If you're staying at Inverbeg Holiday Park or Milarrochy Bay, both excellent spots on the loch's west side, Coille Mhor makes a proper morning excursion before heading down to the water. Combines well with a lakeside walk or a visit to one of the nearby villages.