Cruach Airde

The walk up Cruach Airde from Tarbert takes you straight into proper Highland scenery without the crowds you'd find at better-known peaks. It's a modest hill by Scottish standards - nothing that'll leave you gasping - but the views across the Kintyre peninsula and towards the islands make the graft worthwhile.

You're looking at roughly two hours up and down, depending on fitness. The path isn't always obvious, which adds a bit of navigating to the experience, but that's part of the appeal if you like a bit of thinking on your feet. From the summit you can see why this corner of Argyll attracted settlement - the water routes, the shelter, the lay of the land all make sense from up there.

Walkers will get the most from this. It's not a trip for small children unless they're already used to rougher terrain, and it won't thrill peak-baggers after their hundredth Munro. But if you're spending time at Port Ban Holiday Park nearby and fancy a proper morning walk that feels like your own discovery rather than a tourist highway, this delivers.

Go in decent weather - mist rolls in quickly and the views disappear entirely. There's no facility at the summit, so bring water. Tarbert itself is only a few miles away when you need supplies or coffee afterwards.