Craig Mony

The walk up Craig Mony rewards you with one of the finest views across Loch Ness you'll find without climbing a proper mountain. From Drumnadrochit, it's a straightforward hike that takes most people around ninety minutes to the summit - nothing too taxing, but enough to work up an appetite. The path itself is well-trodden and manageable year-round, though it gets boggy after heavy rain. Once you're up there, the loch spreads out below like a vast mirror, and on a clear day you can trace the water all the way down to Urquhart Castle's ruins. The view justifies the effort entirely. This is proper walker territory rather than a casual stroll, so bring decent boots and water. There's no visitor facility at the top - just you, the view, and whatever weather Scotland decides to throw at you. It's free to visit and you can spend as long as you want taking photographs or simply sitting with a sandwich watching the light change across the water. Families with confident walkers will manage it fine; younger kids might struggle with the elevation. If you're staying at one of the glamping sites nearby - Loch Ness Glamping is genuinely close by - this makes a cracking morning or afternoon excursion before heading back for dinner. The real appeal here is that it feels properly wild without requiring serious mountaineering skills. Worth the detour.