Cruachan

A quiet alternative to the West Highland Way's bustle, this Cruachan sits above Cailness, offering a bird's-eye view of Loch Lomond. It’s a modest hill that trades height for peace, provided you don't mind a bit of a scramble through the Trossachs' signature thicket.

• •Positioned directly above the West Highland Way, it provides a perfect vantage point to smugly watch long-distance walkers struggle with their backpacks while you enjoy your sandwich.
• •The name 'Cruachan' translates to 'little heap,' which is far more fitting for this 536m rise than it is for the famous, sprawling 1,126m Munro of the same name.
• •The surrounding slopes were once the stomping grounds of the Macfarlane clan, who were notorious for 'lifting' cattle and using these rugged folds in the land for concealment.
• •The hill is located near the Highland Boundary Fault, a massive geological rift that separates the soft sandstones of the Lowlands from the hard, ancient rocks of the Highlands.
• •The 'path' is largely a theoretical concept here; be prepared to spend half your time wondering if you're on a trail or just following a particularly ambitious sheep.