Creag Dhubh

The walk up Creag Dhubh from Inveraray is steep enough to earn proper respect, but the payoff justifies every laboured breath. This isn't a technical climb - more a relentless trudge through moorland that rewards you with views across Loch Fyne and the Cowal Peninsula that make your legs forget they hurt.

The peak itself sits around 2,400 feet, which means you're not talking a five-minute stroll from the car park. Allow three to four hours for the round trip depending on fitness and how often you stop to soak it in. The terrain gets boggy in places - waterproof boots aren't optional - and the exposed ridges mean wind can whip up suddenly. Clear days are essential if you want to see anything beyond cloud.

This is walker territory, not a family day out. Parents with young kids should look elsewhere; teenagers keen on proper hills will get something genuine from it. History buffs might appreciate the Argyll connections, though there's nothing particularly significant about the summit itself.

If you're staying at Argyll Caravan Park or Drimsynie Holiday Village, Creag Dhubh makes a solid full-day expedition. It's close enough to Inveraray town that you can grab supplies beforehand, and the mountain offers genuine Highland walking without needing the drive north to bigger ranges. Stucreoch Caravan Park, further afield, works too if you're basing yourself deeper in Argyll.

Practical: Free. Bring water, map, and waterproofs. Summer months offer the longest light window, though spring and autumn tend to have clearer skies.