Sròn Achadh a' Bhacaidh

The walk up Sròn Achadh a' Bhacaidh isn't what you'd call straightforward, but that's rather the point. This modest Highland peak sits a few miles north of Ardgay, and while it won't trouble anyone's list of Scotland's highest mountains, it rewards you with proper views across the Dornoch Firth and up into the surrounding ridges.

The approach is steep in places - the kind of scramble that leaves your legs properly tired but your spirit lifted. Most people allow two to three hours for the round trip, depending on fitness and how long you linger at the summit. There's no marked path in the traditional sense, so a decent map and compass work is essential. Weather up here changes quickly, and on a grey day the appeal drops considerably.

This is walker's territory, not a soft stroll. Families with older kids might manage it, but younger children will find the terrain tough going. History buffs won't find much - it's geology and views that matter here. The Highland landscape itself is the draw: that long stretch to the Firth, the heathery slopes, the sense you're doing actual walking rather than ambling.

If you're staying at Ardgay Glamping nearby, this makes a brilliant day's excursion before returning to something more civilised. Head early, check the weather, and bring proper boots. Free to climb, naturally - just you and the Highlands.