Cruach Lagain

The walk up Cruach Lagain takes you out of Tarbert and into proper hill country - nothing massive, but the climb earns your legs' attention. This is a Munro, which means it hits the magic 3,000-foot mark, and the effort rewards you with wide views across Argyll's lochs and islands. You'll see Arran on a clear day, which makes the huffing and puffing feel worthwhile.

The route itself is straightforward enough - no scrambling or exposed ridges - so it suits walkers who want genuine mountain air without the technical faffing about. Allow three to four hours from the carpark, depending on your pace and how long you linger at the top. The ground can be boggy lower down, especially after rain, so decent boots aren't optional here.

This works brilliantly if you're based at Port Ban Holiday Park or The Gather - both proper spots for a week, with Tarbert itself a reasonable pit stop for supplies or fish and chips. The climb doesn't suit small children, though teenagers who can manage steady uphill hiking will find it satisfying. Solo walkers and couples get more from it than families with young kids.

Go on a settled day when the cloud's lifting rather than settling in. Midweek you'll have the mountain mostly to yourself, which is when you remember why people move to Argyll in the first place.