Cruach nam Mult

The walk up Cruach nam Mult from Cairndow isn't long, but it's steep enough to remind your legs why you paid for a week in the Highlands. This Argyll peak sits just shy of 1,000 metres and delivers proper views across the Cowal peninsula and down towards Loch Fyne - the kind of vista that makes sense of the huffing and puffing.

It's a solid choice for walkers staying at Drimsynie Holiday Village or Argyll Caravan Park. Neither route is technical, but both are relentless in their gradient. Most people allow two to three hours return, depending on fitness and how long you linger at the top. The terrain switches between bracken and moorland, so waterproof boots matter year-round.

Families with older kids (ten plus) will manage this fine. Younger ones might find it a slog. Solo walkers often crack on without issue - it's straightforward enough that you won't need a map reader, though one helps. The real appeal isn't a summit cairn or sweeping vistas alone; it's the quiet. You won't fight crowds here like you do at Ben Lomond.

Go on a clear day or don't go at all. Mist turns this into a damp moorland plod. Spring through autumn is your window, though October often delivers the sharpest light. It's the sort of walk that justifies the midweek trip - a proper leg-stretcher that slots neatly between a seaside run at Loch Fyne and a proper multi-day trek elsewhere.