Creag a' Bhealaidh

The walk up Creag a' Bhealaidh is straightforward enough, but the views across the Moray Firth and towards the Black Isle make it worth the leg work. It's a proper Highland vantage point without being a proper slog - nothing technical, just steady uphill terrain from the Inverness side. Takes maybe ninety minutes to bag the summit if you're not hanging about, a couple of hours if you want to sit and soak it in.

This one suits walkers who want something achievable without needing a head for heights or specialist kit. It's not dramatic in the way Ben Nevis is dramatic, but that's partly the appeal - fewer people, better chance of actually seeing something without cloud cover. The surrounding moorland has its own appeal too, that rolling emptiness you get in the Highlands.

If you're based at Tomatin Glamping Pods just down the road, Creag a' Bhealaidh makes a natural half-day outing before heading back for a proper meal. It fits well into a broader Highland park holiday where you're mixing short walks with slightly longer expeditions. The path's passable year-round, though waterlogged in winter. Spring and autumn are cracking times - clearer light, fewer midges.

Free to walk, obviously. No visitor facilities at the top, so bring water. The nearest proper town is Inverness for supplies and a decent pub afterwards.