Kilmarnock Hill

The walk up Kilmarnock Hill rewards you with views across the Firth of Clyde that frankly justify the climb. You're looking out from Argyll, over towards the islands and down towards Dunoon - it's the sort of vista that makes you understand why people have been hiking these Scottish hills for centuries.

This isn't a technical mountain. You're talking a straightforward uphill slog through moorland and rough grass, the kind of walk that takes between two and three hours round trip depending on your pace and fitness. The ground's boggy in places - proper waterlogged if it's been wet - so come with decent boots and expect to get muddy. It's free, obviously, since it's just a hill.

Walkers and hill-baggers get the most from it. If your kids are under eight, you might find it a bit tedious for them - there's no summit hut, no shelter, just you and the wind once you're up there. Families with older children who've got the legs for it will manage fine, though it's not the most dramatic peak in Scotland by a long shot.

It fits nicely into a holiday centred around Dunoon. The Beach House Pods are just over three miles away, making this a proper local option if you're based there. Drop the kids at Hunters Quay Holiday Village's facilities beforehand and you could have a peaceful morning to yourself. Early morning goes best - the midges will still be sluggish and the light's better across the water.