Creaghan Hill

The walk up Creaghan Hill isn't long, but it's steep enough to earn proper views over Loch Lomond. You're looking at maybe an hour up from the car park near Alexandria, following a path that climbs through woodland before opening out to moorland. The summit's modest - nothing dramatic, just a cairn and bracken - but the loch sprawls below you in that particular way Scottish lochs do, all silver and serious.

This is a solid choice if you're staying at one of the parks round here and want something that won't wreck the kids or leave you knackered before lunch. The climb's straightforward enough, no scrambling nonsense, though your legs will know they've done it. On a clear day you can see right down the loch toward Ben Lomond, which makes the whole thing feel properly worth the effort.

Go early if you can. The path gets muddy and the weather turns fast this far north. Wear decent boots - no trainers business. It's free, obviously, being a Scottish hill, and you can park near the base without drama. Most people do it as a morning mission from Loch Lomond Retreat or Milarrochy Bay if they're camping nearby. Save it for when the weather's decent and you've got time to linger at the top with coffee and whatever cake you've packed.