Crianlarich

Two railway lines converge here like ancient drove roads, making this Highland junction the perfect base for some serious hill walking. Crianlarich sits in a dramatic bowl of mountains, with peaks like Ben Lui and Beinn Dubhchraig rising steeply on all sides - proper Scottish Highland terrain that'll have your legs burning by lunchtime.

The village itself is small but functional, built around that crucial railway crossing where the West Highland Line splits toward Mallaig and Oban. You'll find the War Memorial at the heart of things, a quiet reminder of the area's past, while the train station remains the lifeline connecting this remote spot to Glasgow and beyond.

Mountain enthusiasts will be in their element. Ben Lui dominates the southern skyline - it's a cracking Munro that rewards the climb with views stretching to Loch Lomond. Creag Mhòr and Ben Oss offer equally rewarding scrambles, though the weather can turn nasty without warning up here. Even the smaller peaks like Cam Chreag provide excellent half-day walks with panoramic Highland views.

Getting here couldn't be easier by train - the West Highland Line stops right in the village. By car, it's about an hour and a half from Glasgow via the A82. The surrounding Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park stretches in every direction, with Tyndrum just down the road offering additional amenities.

Staying at one of the nearby holiday parks makes perfect sense for exploring this mountain playground. You're perfectly positioned for day trips to Loch Lomond, the Trossachs, or even a push north toward Glen Coe. The BEA Viscount G-AOHI Monument serves as a sobering reminder of the challenging terrain pilots once faced navigating these Highland valleys.