Meall a' Choire Odhair

The climb up Meall a' Choire Odhair rewards you with views across Perthshire that make the slog worthwhile. This isn't a dramatic peak - the summit sits at 659 metres - but the walk itself takes you through proper highland terrain with good paths most of the way. It's the sort of hill that feels bigger than its height suggests, especially when you're huffing near the top.

Most people tackle this from Dunblane, which sits about 5 miles south and makes a sensible base for a few days exploring the area. The route itself isn't technically difficult, making it ideal for keen walkers rather than scramblers. You're looking at a solid three to four hours round trip depending on fitness and how often you stop to catch your breath. The ground can be boggy after rain - bring decent boots, not trainers.

What makes it worth doing is the isolation. You won't find crowds here like you might on Ben Ledi nearby. The views back towards Stirling and across the Trossachs are genuinely good on a clear day, though cloud rolls in quickly so start early and check the forecast first.

If you're staying at one of the holiday parks within five miles - Comrie Croft or Braidhaugh both offer decent facilities - this works perfectly as a half-day excursion. You could knock it out in an afternoon and still have time for a pub meal in Dunblane afterwards. It's the sort of hill that locals know works brilliantly when the weather's decent but gets overlooked when it's drizzling. That's precisely when to go.