Sìdhean Riabhach

The walk up Sìdhean Riabhach takes you straight into proper Highland terrain, rising above Oban with views that stretch across to the islands. It's a relatively modest peak at around 430 metres, but what it lacks in height it makes up for in accessibility - this isn't a slog that demands full mountaineering kit or an early start.

You'll find yourself on open moorland with a clear path most of the way. The summit itself is rocky and windswept, the sort of place where you genuinely feel like you've earned a rest and a decent view. On a clear day, the vistas across Loch Linnhe and towards Ben Cruachan make the effort feel worthwhile. Even when the weather's moody - which it often is in Argyll - the landscape has that raw, austere beauty that makes you remember why you came to Scotland in the first place.

This works brilliantly if you're staying at one of the local parks like Oban Holiday Park or Tanunda Pods and want a half-day walk that doesn't eat up your whole schedule. Families with reasonable fitness levels will manage it fine, though younger children might find the moorland stretch tedious. Allow two to three hours return, depending on how long you linger on top.

There's no visitor facility or admission charge - it's a straightforward hill walk with a start point accessible from Oban town. Go when the weather's dry if you can, as wet moorland becomes properly boggy and far less pleasant. Come for the walk, stay for the views, and you'll understand why people keep coming back to this corner of Argyll.