Meall Fuar-mhonaidh

This 699-metre peak sits just south of Inverness, making it one of those rare Scottish mountains you can actually reach without committing your entire weekend to the endeavour. The walk up takes roughly two hours depending on fitness, and the path starts from decent parking near the base - no scrambling through gates or trudging across boggy moorland for miles beforehand.

What you get for your effort is a proper Highland view without the Alpine drama. On clear days the outlook stretches across to the Moray Firth and beyond, with Inverness itself visible in the distance. The summit itself is straightforward - a cairn, good 360-degree perspective, and the kind of wind that reminds you to pack layers even when it looks mild at sea level.

This works best for walkers who want a solid two-to-three-hour outing without technical difficulty. Families with older kids will manage it fine. History enthusiasts won't find much up there beyond some old fence posts, but the landscape tells its own story about Highland geology and land use.

If you're staying at Loch Ness Shores or one of the other park sites nearby - they're all within 5-6 miles - this makes an excellent morning walk before heading down to Inverness for lunch. It's the kind of hike that doesn't require specialist gear or mountain experience, just reasonable legs and decent footwear. Avoid the wettest months if you can; the path gets legitimately boggy then.