Tom na h-Airidh

The walk up Tom na h-Airidh is a proper straightforward hill climb that delivers genuine views across the Firth of Clyde without requiring serious scrambling skills. It sits just inland from Helensburgh, making it an obvious choice if you're based at one of the local caravan parks - Rosneath Castle is practically on your doorstep at under three miles away.

The summit sits at 359 metres and takes most people around ninety minutes to reach. The path is well-trodden but steep in places, especially towards the top, so it's not a casual stroll. On a clear day you're rewarded with views across to the Cowal Peninsula and down the Firth - nothing dramatic, but solid Argyll scenery that justifies the climb. The peak itself is fairly bare, so there's no shelter to speak of.

It works best for walkers who want a genuine hill without committing to a full-day expedition. Families with older kids will manage it, though younger ones might find the steepness frustrating. The real test is the weather - cloud rolls in quickly here, and when it does, the views vanish entirely. Worth checking the forecast before you head out.

If you're staying at Stoneymollan over on Loch Lomond, this makes a decent half-day mission to break up a longer holiday. Bring proper boots - the terrain gets boggy after rain, and the ground's loose in sections. There's parking near the foot of the path just outside Helensburgh.