Ben Lomond

The walk up Ben Lomond takes you from loch-side forest straight into proper mountain terrain within an hour. It's not technical climbing - the main path is well-trodden and straightforward - but don't let that fool you into thinking it's a gentle stroll. The final push to the 974-metre summit gets steep enough that you'll feel your legs working, especially on the way down.

What makes it special is how quickly the landscape changes. Start near Alexandria in the shadow of conifers, and you emerge onto open moorland with views across Loch Lomond that genuinely take your breath away - partly from exertion, partly from how far you can see on a clear day. On a bad weather day, you're slogging uphill in cloud cover wondering why you bothered. So timing matters.

Families with older kids (10+) will manage the ascent fine if they're regular walkers; younger children find the scree sections tedious. History buffs won't find much here - it's purely about the climb and the views. Most people allow four to five hours for the round trip, though fit walkers knock it out in three.

If you're basing yourself at Inverbeg Holiday Park or Loch Lomond Holiday Park, Ben Lomond is the obvious pull, though Forest Holidays Ardgartan works too if you don't mind a slightly longer drive. It's free, naturally - you're just walking up a mountain. Pick a dry day with decent visibility, wear proper boots, and bring water. The summit cairn marks the spot where countless people have stood grinning at what they've achieved.