Cruach an Lochain

The walk up Cruach an Lochain from Cairndow takes you into proper hill country without the crowds you'd find on the more famous peaks nearby. It's a straightforward ascent - nothing technical, but it does climb steadily, so come prepared for a good couple of hours up and the same back down. The summit sits at 750 metres, which means the views across Loch Fyne to the Cowal peninsula are worth the effort, especially on a clear day when you can pick out individual glens snaking away to the north.

This is one for walkers who like their hills honest rather than showy. Families with keen legs will manage it fine, though younger children might find the relentless gradient a bit much. There's nothing on the mountain itself - no facilities, no cafe, just the path and the landscape. That's rather the point.

If you're staying at one of the caravan parks scattered around Cairndow and Strathlachlan - Strathlachlan is closest at just over two miles from the village - Cruach an Lochain makes for a proper half-day outing that gets you out of the campervan and breathing hard. The walk starts from near Cairndow itself, which sits on the A83 between Inveraray and Arrochar. Free to access, naturally. Go early on weekends if you want relative solitude. The weather can turn quickly in these glens, so check the forecast before you set out.