Cruach Kilfinan

The walk up Cruach Kilfinan starts gentle enough, but it's deceptive. What looks like a modest hill from Colintraive turns into a proper scramble once you get beyond the tree line, with loose scree that'll test your boots and your patience in equal measure. The reward, though, is worth every blister - you're standing on a genuine Argyll peak with views that stretch across the Firth of Clyde, and on a clear day you can pick out Bute and the Cowal Peninsula spreading out below you like a map someone's left on a table.

This is walker territory, full stop. Families with young kids might manage it on a good day, but the final push isn't a casual stroll and the descent demands concentration. Scrambling experience helps. Allow three hours minimum, longer if you're taking photos or enjoying the view from the summit cairn. Go when the weather's settled - mist here is thick and disorientating, and there's nothing pleasant about stumbling through cloud on loose ground.

The mountain sits well within reach of Glendaruel Caravan Park, making it a natural day outing if you're based that way. Colintraive itself is tiny, so you'll want supplies sorted before you head out. Start early in the day. The light's best in morning anyway, and afternoon weather can turn quickly in these hills. It's not a walk for collecting ticks on a list - it's for people who actually enjoy climbing.