Madenii Bank

The bank itself is unremarkable - a steep grassy slope that rises abruptly from the A83, just outside Cairndow. But what makes Madenii Bank worth stopping for is the view. On a clear day you're looking straight up the length of Loch Fyne, the water reflecting sky, mountains rising on both sides. It's the kind of vista that justifies pulling over without warning.

There's no visitor centre, no facilities, no interpretation boards. You park where you can, climb the bank - it's a proper slog, to be honest, steeper than it looks from below - and stand there taking it in. Twenty minutes tops, unless you're the type to sit and sketch or meditate on the Highlands.

Walkers using the area will recognize this as part of the broader topography rather than a destination in itself. It's the sort of place you'd add on while exploring Argyll's lochs and glens, not the reason you'd book a week at Drimsynie Holiday Village just down the road. That said, if you're staying locally and the weather's fine, it costs nothing and takes minimal time. The walk is short enough for children without being boring - there's a tangible goal at the top and the view delivers.

Go in morning light for the best photography. Avoid midweek in heavy rain when the slope becomes slippery and the view vanishes into cloud. It's honest Argyll rather than Instagram-ready, which is exactly what appeals.