Cruach an Locha

The walk up Cruach an Locha from Tarbert isn't long, but it punches above its weight for views across Loch Fyne and the Kintyre Peninsula. You're looking at maybe two hours there and back depending on fitness and how often you stop to catch your breath - the climb is relentless rather than technical, and the final stretch involves proper scrambling if you want to bag the summit properly.

What makes it worthwhile is the perspective. From the top you can see right down the loch towards Inveraray, and on clear days the hills beyond Loch Eck open up. It's not a Munro and it won't take all day, which means families with teenagers can manage it without mutiny, though younger kids might find the steep sections tedious. Serious hill walkers will be in and out before lunch.

The ground underfoot is boggy in places - nothing dramatic but worth waterproof boots. Spring and autumn tend to be clearest for views; summer can bring low cloud that kills the point of going up. There's no charge, and you can access it from paths near Tarbert itself.

If you're staying at Tarbert Holiday Park or Port Ban just down the road, this works as a morning jaunt that leaves afternoons free for Loch Fyne itself - there's kayaking and fishing if you want it. The Gather offers a posher base if you prefer, but honestly, the peak is the draw here. Don't go expecting solitude or dramatic terrain. Go for the sight of the water below and a proper stretch of the legs.