Meall Garbh

The walk up Meall Garbh isn't technically difficult, but it's relentless. You're looking at a straightforward slog from Ballachulish - roughly 2,600 feet of ascent with little in the way of switchbacks or clever route-finding to make life easier. The views, though, are genuinely proper. On a clear day you're staring out across the Mamores and towards Ben Nevis, with Loch Leven sprawling below. It's the kind of outlook that makes your legs stop complaining.

This is a peak for walkers who don't mind graft and aren't chasing a Munro tick - Meall Garbh sits just short of that threshold at 3,694 feet. Allow five to six hours for the round trip if you're reasonably fit. Families with older kids might manage it, but younger ones will struggle with the sustained gradient and lack of interest stops along the way. History buffs won't find much here - it's purely a landscape walk.

Base yourself at one of the campsites dotted around Ballachulish - Red Squirrel is closest at just over two miles away, or try Port a Bhaigh if you want something more low-key. The weather in the Highlands changes fast, so pick a day when the cloud is sitting low elsewhere but high here. Early morning starts pay dividends; the peak gets busy in summer afternoons. It's worth doing if you're already in the area exploring the Mamores, but don't drive hours specifically for this one.