Lyle Hill

The climb up Lyle Hill from Helensburgh takes about forty minutes if you're moving at a steady pace, and the view across the Firth of Clyde when you crest it absolutely justifies the legwork. You're looking straight out towards Dunoon, across to the Cowal Peninsula, and on a clear day the mountains punch through the haze properly. The Peace Monument at the top - that white stone thing shaped like a Celtic cross - was built after the First World War and sits there with quiet dignity. It's not dramatic or imposing, just peaceful.

Walkers will find the approach straightforward enough, though it does get a bit muddy if there's been rain. Families with kids should manage it no problem; it's under two miles each way and there's a decent path most of the way. The real appeal here is the walk itself rather than time spent at the summit - you're out in decent Argyll countryside, and once you're up there, twenty minutes of proper quiet will do you fine.

If you're based at Rosneath Castle Caravan Park just three miles away, this makes an excellent morning outing before lunch. Hunters Quay Holiday Village, a bit further off, could manage it as an afternoon run-out. Go midweek if you can; weekends get busier with local day-trippers. It's free, open year-round, and worth the effort - though I'd skip it if the cloud is sitting low on the hills. No point driving up to Helensburgh just for this, but if you're already in the area, get your boots on.