Sgòrr a' Choise

The walk up Sgòrr a' Choise starts properly steep from Ballachulish - you'll feel the climb in your legs within the first twenty minutes. It's a Highlands peak that doesn't mess about with its gradient, but the payoff is real: sweeping views across Loch Leven and south towards the Mamores when the weather plays ball.

This is one for walkers who know what they're doing. The path is rough in places and there's no shelter once you're above the treeline, so it's not the sort of thing to tackle in dodgy conditions or with young kids unless they're proper fell-runners already. Allow three to four hours there and back from the car park, depending on your fitness and how long you linger at the summit.

What makes it worth the effort is that it doesn't feel overcrowded. You'll see far fewer people than on the Ben Nevis trail or the main Mamores routes, which means the views feel more like a discovery than a tourist tick-box. The peak itself is modest compared to its bigger neighbours, but that's rather the point - you're not queuing for photos here.

If you're based at Red Squirrel Campsite or Invercoe just down the road, you could knock this out on a morning and still have the afternoon for the loch or exploring Glencoe proper. It's a solid half-day hike for anyone with decent boots and hill sense. Don't bother if you're after an easy stroll, but if you're after actual mountain air without the circus, Sgòrr a' Choise delivers exactly that.