Tom na Caillich

The walk up Tom na Caillich rewards you with one of those rare Highland views that makes the leg work feel worthwhile. It's a modest peak near Strathpeffer, nothing that'll take all day, but the panorama across the Black Isle and beyond is genuinely good. The locals call it 'the old woman's hill' - there's a Gaelic story attached to it, though honestly the views matter more than the legend when you're standing up there.

It's a straightforward ascent, steep in places but nothing technical. Most people manage it in under two hours with time at the top. The path isn't fancy, just proper hill walking terrain. You'll want decent boots after rain - it gets boggy in the lower sections. Spring or early summer is best; winter can be grim and midges are brutal in July.

This is ideal for walkers who know their way around hills but want something manageable. Families with older kids will cope fine, though younger ones might struggle with the ascent. It's not a casual stroll.

If you're based at Highland Heights Luxury Glamping just down the road, this makes a proper morning's work before returning to the comfort of those tents. The peak sits close enough to Strathpeffer that you could combine it with exploring the village itself - it's a good anchor point rather than a destination in isolation. Free to walk, and you'll likely have the ridge to yourself on a weekday.