Beinn Dubh Airigh

The walk up Beinn Dubh Airigh from Taynuilt is one of those Scottish hill outings where the effort-to-reward ratio genuinely works in your favour. It's not a massive undertaking - most walkers knock it out in a couple of hours - but the views across Loch Awe and towards Ben Cruachan make it feel like proper mountaineering. The peak itself sits around 2,400 feet, which means proper views without needing technical kit or a dawn start.

What you actually get here is a straightforward hill walk with cracking panoramas. On a clear day you're looking across one of Scotland's longest freshwater lochs, with serious peaks all around you. The terrain is manageable underfoot, though it's steep enough in places to feel like proper graft. Most people allow two to three hours return, depending on fitness and how long you want to linger at the top.

This works brilliantly if you're based at one of the nearby parks - Fyne Glamping and Loch Awe Camping Pods are both within striking distance - and you want something more substantial than a stroll but less committal than a full day in the hills. Families with older kids will manage it fine; younger ones might find it a touch much. History buffs won't find much narrative here, but walkers absolutely will.

The real draw is the Argyll landscape itself. You're looking at Loch Awe properly, not just glimpsing it from a road. That alone makes the climb worthwhile.