Creag a' Chaoruinn

The climb up Creag a' Chaoruinn takes you out of Strathpeffer proper and into proper Highland terrain - nothing too punishing, but it's a walk that actually feels like a walk. The peak sits at 792 metres, which means you're high enough to feel it in your legs and lungs, but not so high that you need special kit or an alpine sense of humour.

What you get at the top is a cracking viewpoint across the Black Isle and towards the Moray Firth. On a clear day it's the kind of thing that makes you understand why people spend whole weekends just walking Scottish hills. On a grey day it's still pleasant enough - you're among proper mountain air rather than dodging tourist coaches.

This is squarely a walkers' hill. Families with younger kids might find the effort steep for what it is, though teenagers who actually like being outdoors will rate it. Expect two to three hours up and down depending on your pace. The path is reasonably well-defined, which helps.

If you're based at Highland Heights Luxury Glamping nearby, this makes a natural day out - far enough to feel like an expedition, close enough that you're not spending half the day getting there. It works well as a solo hike too, which seems to appeal to people escaping the more crowded paths around Cairngorms way. Go early on weekends if you want some peace, or midweek if you can manage it.