Black Craig

The walk up Black Craig rewards you with proper views across the Firth of Clyde - on a clear day you can see right over to Bute and beyond. It's not a massive peak by Scottish standards, but the climb from Dunoon is steep enough to feel like proper work without demanding full mountaineering gear.

You're looking at roughly two hours up and back, give or take. The path starts from the town itself, so there's no faffing about with car parks or shuttle buses. The terrain gets rocky towards the top, which keeps things interesting. Families with older kids will manage it fine; younger ones might find the final push tedious.

There's no visitor infrastructure up there - no café, no visitor centre, just the wind and the view. That's rather the point. Go early in the day if you want the light on the water, and avoid it in heavy rain when the paths turn into streams. It's free, obviously.

If you're based at Beach House Pods or Hunters Quay Holiday Village, Black Craig makes a solid half-day outing that won't eat your whole schedule. The Secret Glen Campsite sits a bit further out but still within easy reach. It's the sort of walk you do because you're staying locally and fancy stretching your legs, not something you'd plan a weekend trip around on its own. Worth doing once if you're in Dunoon, though - the Firth views are genuinely worth the effort.