Meall an Fhuaid

The walk up Meall an Fhuaid isn't dramatic - it won't make you gasp at the summit the way Ben Alligin does. But that's rather the point. This is a proper hill walker's mountain, the sort you climb because you want to be on the hill, not because you're chasing a viewpoint postcard.

The peak sits above Strathcarron, and from the top you get proper Highland vistas - the Torridon range looming up to the north, Glen Carron falling away beneath you, and on a clear day that satisfying sense of seeing both coasts almost simultaneously. Most people do this as part of a larger ridge walk rather than an out-and-back, which makes it feel less like a slog and more like you're actually exploring somewhere.

Allow three to four hours if you're going up and straight back down. The paths are rough in places - you'll want proper boots and navigation skills because the ridge can be murky when cloud rolls in. It's not one for young families or casual Sunday walkers, but if you're staying nearby at Shieldaig Camping & Cabins and you've got legs that know what they're doing, it's well worth a morning out.

Go when the weather window opens up. Scottish mountain weather doesn't wait around, and this ridge isn't somewhere you want to be when visibility drops. Early spring or autumn tend to be best - less crowded than summer, less savage than winter.