Meall an Tarsaid

The walk up Meall an Tarsaid takes you through proper Highland terrain - moorland that shifts from brown to purple depending on the season, with the Moray Firth visible on a clear day. It's not a huge mountain by Scottish standards, but the views across to Ben Wyvis and down towards Inverness make the effort worthwhile. The approach is straightforward enough, though it's boggy in places and the weather can turn without warning.

This one's best suited to walkers with decent fitness and boots that can handle wet ground. Not a day trip for young children unless they're experienced hill walkers - the terrain demands concentration. Allow three to four hours for the round trip, depending on your pace and how long you fancy sitting at the top with a flask. Go in spring or early autumn when the midges aren't quite so brutal and the light stays longer.

Stay at one of the Loch Ness camping sites - Loch Ness Shores has a top rating and it's only 4.9 miles away, which means a decent lie-in before heading out. Loch Ness Holiday Park is slightly closer at 4.3 miles. The peak works well as a morning walk if you're basing yourselves in the area for a few days, freeing up afternoons for Loch Ness itself or exploring the Great Glen. It's not a "bag it and leave" kind of hill - it rewards lingering and watching how the light changes across the landscape.