Craig Dunain

The walk up Craig Dunain from Inverness is a proper no-nonsense hill climb that rewards you with a view across the city and out toward the Moray Firth. It's not a long slog - maybe forty minutes if you're steady - but it's steep enough that you'll feel you've earned the summit. The peak itself is bare and windswept, which sounds grim but actually means nothing gets in the way of the vista. On a clear day you can pick out the Beauly Firth snaking away to the north and the distant bulk of Ben Wyvis further off.

Walkers will get the most from this one. It's the sort of hill that locals use to blow off steam before work, not a tourist attraction with benches and an ice cream van. Families with capable kids might enjoy it, but younger ones will find the gradient tedious and there's nothing at the top to soften the effort. Allow an hour return if you're taking photos and having a rest.

What makes it worthwhile is the proximity to Inverness itself - you're literally on the city's doorstep - which makes it ideal if you're based at Bunchrew Caravan Park or one of the other sites within a couple of miles. It's free, always open, and requires zero planning. Pop it in as a morning walk before breakfast or as something to do when the weather clears. Worth the detour? Only if you like proper upland views and don't mind a sharp climb.