Meall Dearg

The walk up Meall Dearg is properly steep, I'll warn you straight away. Starting from near Ullapool, this Highland peak climbs 908 metres and demands proper legs - but the views across the Summer Isles and out to sea make every sweaty switchback worthwhile.

It's a mountain for walkers who actually want to feel like they've done something. Two to three hours up, depending on fitness, then the same back down. The path is well-trodden but rocky underfoot, and there's genuine exposure on the ridge sections - not a job for small children or anyone nervous of height. On a clear day you can see for miles; on a cloudy one, you'll be climbing into mist within twenty minutes.

Free to do, obviously - it's a Scottish mountain. No facilities at the start, so bring water and something to eat. Midweek mornings are quieter than weekends. Summer's your best bet, though I've done it in October and had brilliant weather.

If you're based at Port a Bhaigh Campsite - just under a mile away - you've got the perfect setup. Break up your holiday with a proper hill day, then return to camp for a cooked breakfast the next morning. It's the kind of walk that makes you feel genuinely alive, even if your calves complain for a couple of days afterwards.