Meall Bàn

The walk up Meall Bàn from Appin is one of those routes that catches you off guard with how good it is. You're looking at a modest 2,107 feet, nothing that'll have you gasping for breath, but the Argyll landscape opens up in ways that proper justify the effort. Start early from the Appin side and you get views across Loch Creran, westward towards the mountains beyond Oban, and on a clear day the Islands start appearing off to the horizon. The paths are reasonably well-defined - you won't spend half the day route-finding - and the whole thing takes a couple of hours up and back if you're moving at a decent pace. This is walker territory, full stop. Not a spot for young children trailing behind, and you won't find a café or visitor facilities at the top, but that's rather the point. What you get instead is solitude and the kind of view that makes you remember why you packed a rucksack. The ridge walking is gentle enough without being boring, and the descent is straightforward. If you're staying at Oban Camping and Caravanning Club Site just down the road, Meall Bàn makes for a perfect morning mission before heading back for lunch. Go in spring or early autumn when the midges aren't out in force and visibility is usually better. Summer works too if you're lucky with the weather, but the peak season can get a bit rammed. Winter's doable but you'll need proper kit.