Stob Odhar

The walk up Stob Odhar is short, sharp, and absolutely worth the effort if you're staying around Tarbert. It's an Arrochar Alps peak that doesn't demand full mountaineering kit, just decent boots and a willingness to huff your way up a relentless slope. The view from the top opens out across Loch Long and into the Cowal Peninsula - proper Scottish west coast stuff. On a clear day you can see down the loch for miles. The path is straightforward enough, though steep in places, and the whole thing takes around two hours return from the car park. Families with older kids will manage it fine. Younger ones might struggle with the gradient, but there's no technical scrambling to spook anyone. What sets Stob Odhar apart from its neighbouring peaks is the relative solitude. You'll see fewer people than on Ben Arthur or The Cobbler, which sit just across the way. That's the appeal - you get the views without the crowds. If you're based at The Gather or Tarbert Holiday Park and fancy breaking up your time with an actual peak bagging day rather than just wandering round the lochs, this delivers. Start early to claim a decent parking spot and avoid the afternoon crowds building up from lower-level walks. The ground can be boggy after rain, so waterproof trousers aren't a luxury here.