Meall Donn

The walk up Meall Donn is one of those Scottish hill experiences that rewards you without demanding a PhD in mountaineering. Starting from around Campbeltown, you're looking at a proper outing - not a stroll, but not a full Alpine expedition either.

What strikes you immediately is how the landscape opens up as you gain height. The Mull of Kintyre sprawls below, and on a clear day the views stretch across to Islay. The peak itself sits at 588 metres, high enough to feel like an achievement without the scrambling that comes with some of the more brutal Argyll hills.

This is walkers' territory, pure and simple. Families with older kids who can handle three or four hours of steady climbing will get on fine. History types won't find ancient cairns or castles - it's geology and views that matter here. The terrain can be boggy lower down, so proper boots aren't optional.

Allow a good half-day from Campbeltown. The direct approach is the most straightforward, though locals will tell you different routes depending on conditions. It's free, obviously - it's a mountain.

If you're based at Carradale Bay Holiday Park just down the coast, Meall Donn makes a cracking day out without the drive commitment of Ben More or the Three Peaks. Go in decent weather - cloud cover on these heights is dispiriting rather than atmospheric. Summer gives you the longest daylight, but spring and autumn clear days can be sharper and less crowded.