Cnoc a' Bhuachaille

You'll spot Cnoc a' Bhuachaille long before you reach it - that distinctive hump rising up from the Drumnadrochit side of Loch Ness is hard to miss. It's a proper little mountain rather than a fell, barely 600 metres but with views that punch well above its weight. The walk takes about an hour up, maybe 90 minutes if you're dawdling, and the path's straightforward enough without being boring.

What you get at the top is one of the finest Loch Ness vistas going. You're high enough to see the length of the loch stretching away, the water dark and moody, the far shore cragging up into proper Highland terrain. On a clear day - and you'll want to pick one - you can pick out Urquhart Castle off to the left and the mountains beyond. The walk itself takes you through decent woodland that opens out as you climb, giving you graduated views rather than dumping you with the panorama all at once.

Walkers of moderate fitness will find this rewarding without being knackering. Families with older kids will manage it fine, though younger ones might find it a slog. The rocky bit near the top needs a bit of scrambling but nothing technical. There's no admission fee and no time restrictions - you just park sensibly and go.

If you're based at Loch Ness Glamping or Loch Ness Shores just down the road, this makes a cracking morning or late afternoon jaunt. It's the kind of walk that breaks up a longer Highland holiday without eating the whole day.