Càrn na Sguabaig

The walk up Càrn na Sguabaig isn't one that'll set your heart racing, but that's rather the point. This modest Highland peak sits just south of Inverness and delivers exactly what you want from a Scottish hill - proper views without needing a guide book or special kit.

From the summit, you're looking out across the Moray Firth and back towards the Great Glen. On a clear day it's genuinely good. The ascent itself takes the better part of an hour from the car park, through mixed woodland that opens up as you gain height. Nothing technical, nothing steep enough to punish your knees on the way down.

This works best for walkers after a proper outing without the grind of Ben Nevis. You won't see crowds here - that's both the appeal and the reason most tourists miss it entirely. Families with kids aged ten and up will manage it fine. Anyone looking for dramatic crags or wild scrambling should look elsewhere.

The location near Inverness is the real draw. If you're based at Tomatin Glamping Pods just down the road, this becomes a perfect half-day venture that leaves the afternoon free for other things. It's the kind of walk that reminds you why the Highlands work - not because every summit is spectacular, but because the cumulative effect of the landscape just feels right. Worth a detour if you're in the area and the weather's playing ball.