Ben Heilam

The walk up Ben Heilam from Durness takes you through some of the most exposed terrain in the Scottish Highlands - and that's precisely why it's worth doing. This isn't a gentle stroll. The peak sits around 900 metres above sea level, and the approach involves proper climbing with loose rock and steep sections that demand decent boots and a head for heights.

You get extraordinary views across the north coast once you've earned them. On a clear day - which, let's be honest, is about one in five in these parts - you're looking out towards Cape Wrath and the Atlantic beyond. Hikers absolutely belong here. Families with young children should think twice unless everyone's genuinely confident on scrambles.

Allow a solid half day minimum, probably closer to five or six hours if you're not moving quickly. The nearest facilities are back in Durness itself, so bring what you need. There's no charge for the mountain, obviously - this is the Highlands, not a theme park.

If you're basing yourself at Sango Sands Oasis just down the coast, Ben Heilam makes a proper adventure for a day out. The campsite's only 5.5 miles away, which means you can head up in the morning and be back for a decent meal. The landscape here is genuinely wild - less touristy than Ben More over on Mull, harder than most people expect, and absolutely brilliant if you know what you're getting into.