Tullich Hill

The walk up Tullich Hill from Arrochar is a proper little gem if you're after something short but with real payoff. It's not technically demanding - maybe forty minutes up if you're moving steadily - but the view across Loch Long and toward Ben Arthur will stop you mid-stride. The path climbs through birch woodland before opening out onto moorland, and on a clear day you're looking at the Cowal peninsula stretching away to the southwest.

This works brilliantly for families staying at Forest Holidays Ardgartan or Inverbeg Holiday Park because it's manageable for older kids without being a full day's commitment. You're not looking at scrambling or exposure, just a steady uphill trudge with a decent reward. The summit's bare and windswept but the views make that worth tolerating.

Timing matters here. Early morning or late afternoon gives you better light and fewer midges if you're going in summer. Allow an hour and a half total if you're moving at a normal pace and want ten minutes at the top. It's free, obviously - just park near Arrochar and start walking. The path is reasonably well-trodden, though it can be boggy after rain.

If you're based at Loch Lomond Holiday Park and want to escape the main tourist drag around the loch itself, this works as a morning outing before heading somewhere else. It's not the most dramatic peak in the area - Ben Arthur is right there and far more impressive - but Tullich Hill earns its place if you've got a couple of hours and want actual views without the queuing.