Sgùrr a' Choire Ghairbh

The walk up Sgùrr a' Choire Ghairbh is properly brutal if you're not ready for it, but the payoff makes every heavy leg forgive you. This Highland peak sits above Kyle with views that stretch across the Kintail mountains and down to Loch Duich - the kind of vista that makes you understand why people move to Scotland and stay.

It's a scramble rather than a gentle stroll. The terrain gets steep, rocky in places, and the final push to the summit demands proper boots and a head for heights. Allow a solid four to five hours return if you're moderately fit. In mist, which comes in fast up here, it becomes genuinely tricky navigation - bring a map and compass, not just optimism.

This is for walkers with some experience under their belt, not families after a casual park outing. Solo hikers and small groups of keen mountain types will get the most from it. Summer's your best bet - spring snow can linger longer than you'd expect, and autumn mist rolls in early.

It's free to climb, naturally. If you're based at Glenshiel Campsite, just down the road, this makes an excellent full-day excursion that'll tire out anyone genuinely interested in the Highlands. It's not a tick-box peak - it demands respect and effort. Worth every minute of it though.