Tom Liath

Tom Liath sits at 1,325 metres, a proper Cairngorm mountain that rises above the plateau with enough swagger to earn its place on most hillwalkers' tick lists. The approach from Grantown-on-Spey isn't a quick jaunt - you're looking at a solid six to seven hours for the full round trip, depending on your fitness and the weather gods' mood.

The walk itself is straightforward enough. You'll traverse open moorland and then climb through the Cairngorm massif, with views that expand the higher you get. The summit itself is a stony plateau, not particularly dramatic or exposed, but the panorama across the central Cairngorms makes it worthwhile. On a clear day you can see for miles. On a cloudy day, you'll be staring at fog.

This is very much a walkers' mountain, not for casual strollers. You need proper boots, a map, and some hill sense - the weather can turn quickly up here. It's the sort of peak that rewards preparation rather than punishes laziness. Families with young legs might manage it, but you'd be looking at an early start and possibly some grumpy teenagers by the summit.

If you're camping at Grantown on Spey Caravan Park, Tom Liath makes a logical day out on the hiking calendar. It connects well with other Cairngorm peaks if you're building a longer hill-walking trip. Not Instagram-famous, which means you'll likely have the summit to yourself - a rarity in these hills these days.