Creag na h-Iolaire

The walk up Creag na h-Iolaire from Drumnadrochit isn't long, but it's steep enough that you'll feel it in your legs. The summit sits just over 300 metres, making it an accessible hill for most fitness levels - you're looking at roughly an hour to the top if you're moving at a decent pace.

What you get for the effort is a proper viewpoint over Loch Ness. On a clear day the view stretches across the water and down towards Inverness, and the loch itself looks genuinely impressive from this angle rather than from the crowded visitor spots along the main road. The peak itself is open moorland with cairns marking the way, so navigation is straightforward even if the weather turns a bit rough.

This works brilliantly as a half-day outing if you're based at one of the nearby sites - Loch Ness Glamping or Loch Ness Shores are both within easy driving distance - and it's the sort of walk that doesn't require technical kit or serious mountain experience. Families with kids aged eight and up will manage it without drama, though younger ones might need a bit of encouragement on the steeper sections.

The best thing about it? It keeps you away from the main Loch Ness tourist trail. You'll see maybe three other walkers on a busy day. Go early morning or late afternoon for the light to hit the loch properly, and bring a windproof - the exposed summit catches everything blowing in from the northwest.