Mullach Dubh

The walk up Mullach Dubh rewards you with views across the Firth of Lorn that make the effort genuinely worthwhile. From Oban, it's a straightforward hike that takes you above the coastal sprawl and out towards proper Highland scenery - the kind of vantage point where you can see why people fight over this part of Argyll.

It's neither a monster of a mountain nor a gentle stroll. The ascent is steady rather than brutal, and the path is well-trodden without being overcrowded. You'll want decent boots and should allow a couple of hours up and down, longer if you're taking time at the summit to sit with a flask and actually look around. The views sweep out to the islands, back over Oban itself, and inland towards the Glen Etive hills. Walkers and hill enthusiasts will get plenty from this one; families with young kids might find the return leg a bit much.

There's no visitor facility on the mountain itself, which is fine - it keeps things simple. Start early if you want to miss other walkers, and time it for decent weather. Rain rolls in quickly here.

If you're basing yourself at Sunnybrae Holiday Park or Argyll Kayaker Cove nearby, Mullach Dubh makes a solid morning out. It's close enough to Oban for a day trip from either park, and gives you that sense of having actually walked somewhere rather than ambled around shops. Good for breaking up a seaside holiday with something that uses your legs.