Craig Phadraig

The walk up Craig Phadraig from Inverness takes about twenty minutes and rewards you with views across the Moray Firth that justify every step. It's a proper little hill fort with Iron Age roots - you can still make out the vitrified ramparts if you know what you're looking for, though the archaeology is subtle enough that kids under eight might not get much from it. The summit itself is modest, around 300 metres, but the perspective shifts everything. From up here, Inverness shrinks below you, and you're looking out over water and distant mountains.

Historians and Highlands walkers will get genuine value from this one. It's free, it's straightforward, and the path is well-maintained. Allow forty-five minutes return including time to sit about and take in the view. Go early morning or late afternoon to dodge the school groups. Winter's actually lovely - fewer midges and better visibility.

It slots perfectly into a caravan park stay near Inverness. Bunchrew Caravan Park is barely a mile away, making this an easy evening escape from the static. For families staying at Go Glamping at Loch Ness further out, it's worth the drive in - combines nicely with a walk along the Caledonian Canal or a poke around Inverness itself. Don't expect anything dramatic or touristy. This is straightforward Highland scenery done right, the sort of walk locals actually do rather than something engineered for visitors.