Ruadh Mheall

You're looking at a proper hill walk here, not one of Scotland's famous munros but a respectable peak that catches views across Perthshire without the tourist crowds. Ruadh Mheall rises to around 640 metres and sits just inland from Crieff, making it an afternoon's work rather than an all-day expedition.

The approach from Crieff takes you through mixed woodland before breaking out onto open moorland - that transition is lovely, especially when the heather's out. The summit's unremarkable in itself, just a cairn and wind, but the views west toward Loch Tay and north to the higher peaks are worth the leg work. On a clear day you can trace the landscape all the way toward Glen Lyon. Allow two to three hours for the round trip depending on pace and how long you linger at the top.

Walkers will find this more rewarding than families with small children - the terrain gets boggy in wet weather and there's nothing to break up the walk with interactive stops. It's the sort of hill that appeals to people who actually want to walk rather than tick boxes. The nearest town, Crieff, is small enough to be manageable but has decent facilities if you want food or a coffee afterwards.

If you're based at Loch Tay Highland Lodges or Loch Earn Leisure Park, both within five miles, this makes a solid morning or early afternoon addition to a broader Perthshire trip. Go midweek if you can - weekends pull more hikers from Perth.