Dùn Ormidale

The walk up Dùn Ormidale from near Oban takes you to one of those Scottish hilltops that feels properly rewarding without requiring mountaineering skills. It's a modest peak by Highland standards - nothing that'll leave you gasping for oxygen - but the views across Loch Linnhe and towards the islands more than justify the effort.

The path itself is straightforward enough, though it can be boggy after rain and the final push does get a bit steep. Most people take between an hour and ninety minutes depending on fitness. The summit itself is bare and windy, which means the panorama isn't obscured by trees - you get a proper sense of being somewhere. On a clear day, which admittedly isn't guaranteed on the west coast, you can pick out Ben Cruachan and the mountains beyond.

Walkers will get the most satisfaction from this one. Families with younger kids might find it a slog without the payoff they'd get from, say, a loch-side stroll. There's no facilities at the top and no tearoom at the base - it's proper hill walking, not a tourist attraction dressed up as one.

If you're staying at Oban Holiday Park just down the road, it makes sense to tackle this as a morning walk before heading to somewhere like Tanunda Pods or Maggie's Cabin for a quieter night. The climb takes the best part of two hours round trip. Free access, no booking needed. Go midweek if you can - weekends bring out the crowds.