Meall Dearg

Meall Dearg sits right on the edge of the Mamores range, and on a clear day the views from the 951-metre summit will absolutely stop you in your tracks. You're looking straight down into the West Highland Way corridor and across to Ben Nevis - proper dramatic stuff. The approach from Kinlochleven is steep and relentless, especially the first kilometre, but it's manageable for anyone with decent fitness and proper boots.

Walkers will get the most from this one. It's not a casual stroll - you're looking at around four hours return from the town, with roughly 700 metres of elevation gain. The path is well-trodden enough not to lose you, though it gets boggy in places after rain. Families with older teenagers might manage it, but younger kids will struggle with the sustained gradient.

The real appeal is how close it brings you to the bigger mountain drama without needing technical climbing. You're rewarded with a genuine summit cairn and sightlines that justify every burning leg muscle. Go in late spring through early autumn when the weather's more cooperative - Scottish hills are moody, and low cloud turns this from spectacular to frustrating in seconds.

If you're camped at Red Squirrel, just a couple of miles away, or based at Invercoe, Meall Dearg works as a proper day-out objective. It's the kind of walk that makes you understand why people keep coming back to the Highlands. No fee, no faffing about - just you and the mountain.