Dunrod Hill

The walk up Dunrod Hill from Helensburgh takes you through proper hill country without the long graft required for the bigger peaks further north. It's a decent climb - not a stroll, but nothing that'll leave you broken either. The summit rewards you with views across the Firth of Clyde that stretch all the way to Arran on a clear day, which makes the huffing worthwhile.

This is one for people who want to feel they've earned their views without committing an entire day to it. Families with older kids will manage it fine. Younger ones might find it a slog, though. Allow a solid two hours for the round trip if you're not a regular walker, longer if you want to linger and actually look at the view rather than just tick it off.

Timing matters. Go early, especially on weekends, or you'll be dodging other walkers on the narrower sections. The weather can turn quickly around these parts - take a windproof even when it looks settled. If you're staying at any of the local holiday parks, Dunrod Hill works well as a morning outing. Hunters Quay is closest at just under six miles away, and Beach House Pods sits right on the coast nearby. It's the sort of walk that makes sense as part of a Clyde Coast trip rather than a destination in itself, but it's worth doing. The views justify the climb.