Garrowchonran

The walk up Garrowchonran is brief but properly rewarding - you're looking at maybe forty minutes to the summit if you're not dawdling, less if you've got the legs for it. It's a peak that doesn't mess about: straight up, excellent views across the Firth of Clyde, and you're done before lunch.

From Dunoon, it's an easy enough approach, and what makes this worthwhile is the view rather than any sense of grand achievement. On a clear day you get the islands laid out below you, and on the days when the cloud sits low, honestly, there's not much point. Go early. The path itself is rough in places and can get boggy after rain, so proper boots aren't optional.

This appeals most to walkers after a quick morning route, or families with kids old enough to manage a steady climb without too much moaning. Don't expect facilities at the top - there's nothing there except the view and whatever weather the Scottish coast throws at you. Allow two hours total if you're not rushing.

If you're staying at Beach House Pods or Hunters Quay Holiday Village nearby, Garrowchonran works well as a morning outing before heading elsewhere for the day. It's not a destination that keeps you occupied for hours, but as a straightforward hill walk from the Cowal Peninsula, it does the job. The real bonus is how few people bother with it - you'll likely have the summit to yourself.