Meall nan Aighean

You won't find a gift shop or a car park at Meall nan Aighean - just a proper Scottish hill walk that delivers views across the Great Glen without the crowds you'd get at Ben Nevis. The peak itself sits at 936 metres and overlooks Fort Augustus from the east, offering sight lines down Loch Ness that justify the graft of getting up there.

This is a walker's outing, full stop. The approach from Fort Augustus takes three to four hours return, depending on fitness and how often you stop for photos. The terrain is moorland and rocky - nothing technical, but it's steep enough in places to make you work for it. The final push to the summit is genuinely rewarding: on a clear day you see right down the loch towards Inverness, with the Cairngorms as a smudged line on the horizon.

Timing matters here. Spring through early autumn is your window - winter brings snow and exposure that catches people out. A settled high-pressure system gives you the best of it; climbing in drizzle is possible but grim. Allow a full day if you're not quick on your feet, and bring water and proper hill kit.

If you're camped at Loch Ness Holiday Park or Inver Coille, this makes a solid day-trip walk without driving anywhere - the trail starts within striking distance of Fort Augustus town. It's also a natural pairing with lower-level explorations of the Great Glen Way if the weather turns.