Meall Odharaich

The walk up Meall Odharaich from Newtonmore is straightforward enough - a proper hill rather than a mountain, which means you can bag it without spending half the day on the slopes. The summit sits at 2,273 feet and rewards you with decent views across the Cairngorms if the weather plays ball. On a clear day you can see for miles; on a damp Scottish afternoon, you'll mostly see your boots.

This is walker territory, pure and simple. Families with older kids will manage it fine - the path is established and not technical - but younger ones might find the two-hour round trip tedious. It's the kind of hill that appeals to people who want to tick Munros off a list without needing scrambling skills or serious alpine gear.

The real strength here is its accessibility from Newtonmore itself. You're not driving for an hour to a trailhead; the walk starts practically on the doorstep. Free, obviously. Allow two to three hours depending on fitness and how many times you stop to catch your breath on the steeper sections.

If you're based at either Invernahavon or Laggan, both within a few miles, this makes a cracking afternoon sortie. It's not dramatic enough to be the trip's highlight, but it's solid filler on a day when the weather's reasonable and you fancy some fresh air. Worth doing once; don't expect it to change your life.