Meall Lighiche

The walk up Meall Lighiche from Ballachulish is properly straightforward, which means it appeals to hillwalkers who aren't after an epic slog but still want proper mountain air and views. You're looking at a Munro-adjacent peak in the southern Highlands - not quite 3,000 feet but high enough to feel earned once you're up there. The route takes you through Glencoe territory, so the landscape does the heavy lifting: rocky slopes, that dramatic Highland light, and on a clear day you can see across to Ben Nevis and the surrounding peaks.

What you get from the summit depends entirely on weather. On a good day it's genuinely stunning - the kind of view that reminds you why you came to Scotland rather than staying in the Cotswolds. Fog rolls in and you're stuck with 20 metres of visibility, which is the risk you take. Allow three to four hours for the full walk depending on fitness; it's not a route where you need technical climbing, just steady legs and decent boots.

History types won't find much on the peak itself, but the surrounding Glencoe valley carries weight - this is landscape steeped in memory, for better or worse. Families with teenagers will manage it fine; younger kids might struggle with the distance and terrain. The two nearby campsites - Red Squirrel and Invercoe - make decent bases for trying it. Park at Ballachulish, grab coffee beforehand if you can find it, and head out early. It's free, obviously.