Tom a' Ghealagaidh

The walk up Tom a' Ghealagaidh rewards you with proper Highland views without needing to be an experienced mountaineer. It's a modest peak by Cairngorms standards, but that's rather the point - it's accessible enough for a decent afternoon outing from Inverness, yet genuinely feels like you've climbed something.

You're looking at a straightforward ascent through moorland and rough grass, with the kind of Scottish weather that changes its mind every twenty minutes. The summit itself isn't dramatic - no rocky scramble or dizzying edges - but the 360-degree panorama across the Highlands makes the leg work worthwhile. On a clear day you can see for miles. On a cloudy one, you'll appreciate the relative solitude.

Walkers will find this their pace, honestly. It's not a trudge, not a technical climb, just a solid hill walk that takes two to three hours round trip depending on your fitness. Families with older children could manage it, though younger legs might find it a bit much. The terrain underfoot is bog-standard Highland moorland - waterlogged in places, so proper boots aren't optional.

The nearest proper base is Inverness, about 30 minutes' drive away. If you're staying at Tomatin Glamping Pods just down the road, this fits perfectly into a wider Highland park holiday exploring the glens and lochs nearby. Free to walk, naturally. Go when the midges aren't out if you possibly can - roughly May through September, earlier in the morning the better.