Annan Hill

The walk up Annan Hill takes you from the outskirts of Dumfries onto a proper viewpoint that's genuinely worth the effort. It's not a long slog - most people manage it in under an hour - but the climb is steady enough that you'll feel you've earned the view at the top.

From the summit you can see across the Solway Firth towards the Lake District fells on a clear day, which is the main draw. The landscape spreads out in all directions: rolling farmland, distant hills, the River Annan winding below. On a misty afternoon it's atmospheric rather than spectacular, but that's Scottish weather for you.

This is best suited to walkers and anyone after a quick leg-stretch rather than a full day's adventure. Families with primary-school age kids will manage fine; younger toddlers might find the gradient frustrating. The hill itself is open access, so there's no admission fee or set opening times - just turn up.

If you're staying at Halleaths Caravan Park, just under three miles away, Annan Hill makes an easy morning excursion before heading elsewhere. It's the sort of thing you'd combine with a wander around Dumfries town centre or a longer walk elsewhere in the Lowlands rather than a destination in itself. Worth doing if you're in the area, but don't plan your holiday around it.