Beinn Leabhain

The walk up Beinn Leabhain from Lochearnhead is one of those hills that rewards you properly without demanding a full day's commitment. It's a genuine peak - 2,400 feet or so - but the ascent is straightforward enough that you're not scrambling or cursing yourself halfway through. The views across Loch Earn and toward Ben Vorlich are the real draw here. On a clear day, which does happen, you can see properly into the Highlands.

Allow three hours or so for the round trip, depending on your pace and how long you dawdle at the top taking photos. The path is well-trodden and reasonably marked, though it can get boggy in wet spells. Start early if you're visiting in summer - the car park at Lochearnhead fills up by mid-morning on weekends.

This is solid walking territory, not a tourist trap. You'll see proper walkers up there, not crowds. It suits anyone with decent fitness and a pair of boots. Families with older kids will manage fine; younger ones might find the return leg tedious. History buffs won't find much to chew on, but landscape photographers will. The Perthshire hills have a different character to the Ben Nevis circus - less famous, more peaceful.

If you're based at Balquhidder Braes or Loch Tay Highland Lodges nearby, it's an obvious choice for an afternoon sortie. Neither park is a long drive away, making this a natural add-on to a wider Perthshire break without requiring a big detour.