Meall Ruigh nam Biorag

The walk up Meall Ruigh nam Biorag from Newtonmore takes you into proper Highland territory - nothing dramatic, but solid and rewarding. It's a modest peak at 805 metres, the sort of hill that doesn't announce itself but delivers once you're on it.

The ascent is straightforward enough, starting from the glen and climbing through moorland with increasing views across the Spey Valley. You won't find technical scrambling or exposure here - it's a walker's hill rather than a climber's challenge. The summit rewards with panoramic views across the Highlands, and on a clear day you'll spot Cairngorm way off to the north.

This works brilliantly as part of a broader Highlands walking trip. The route takes roughly four hours there and back, making it manageable without being rushed. Families with reasonable hill experience will cope fine; younger kids might find it a slog depending on fitness.

Stay at Laggan Glamping or Invernahavon Caravan Park - both minutes away - and you've got a proper base for tackling this and the wider Cairngorms area. Newtonmore itself is small but functional, with shops and cafes that do the job. The hill works best in decent weather; Scottish mountain mist can render the view entirely academic, and the moorland terrain gets boggy after heavy rain. May through September gives you the best bet for decent conditions. It's not a name that will impress down the pub, but that's precisely why it's worth doing - you'll have the hill more or less to yourself.