Càrn Ruigh Shamhraich

The walk up Càrn Ruigh Shamhraick rewards you with proper Highland views. It's a modest peak by Scottish standards, but that's rather the point - you don't need a full day's expedition to feel like you've earned something real.

From Inverness, it's close enough for an afternoon jaunt. The ascent takes a couple of hours depending on fitness and how often you stop to look around. The terrain is rough in places, boggy in others, typical of what you get up here. On a clear day the perspectives open up nicely - you can see across the Highlands in that vast, rolling way that makes you understand why people move to Scotland and never leave.

Walkers will get the most from this. It's not a destination for people after a five-minute viewpoint - you need to be up for the graft. Families with older kids who enjoy hillwalking will do fine. Younger children might struggle with the distance and terrain, frankly.

If you're based at Tomatin Glamping Pods four miles away, this makes an excellent morning walk before settling in for the evening. The pods themselves sit well for exploring the area - you're properly positioned between Inverness and the deeper Highlands, so you can dip in and out without spending half your holiday driving.

Bring good boots and waterproofs. The weather changes fast up here. Free to visit, obviously - just park sensibly at the trailhead and respect the land. Worth the effort.