Auchensow Hill

The walk up Auchensow Hill takes about an hour from Sanquhar, and honestly, it's a cracking bit of fell walking without the drama. You're looking at proper moorland once you get above the tree line - heather, bracken, the lot - and the views across Dumfries and Galloway spread out like someone's unrolled a map at your feet.

It's a straightforward ascent, nothing technical. Families with older kids will manage it fine; younger ones might find the initial stretch through the forest a bit tedious before it opens up. The real appeal is the solitude and the sense you've actually earned the summit without needing crampons or a guide book the size of a brick.

Come on a clear day or don't bother. Low cloud turns this into a slog with nothing at the end except wet grass. Spring and early autumn are best - summer can be midgy, and winter will test your footing if there's been rain. There's no cafe at the top, so take water and a snack.

If you're staying at Sunnyside Lodges just down the road, this works as a proper morning walk before breakfast. It's not going to shift your whole holiday itinerary, but it's the sort of hill that reminds you why the Scottish Lowlands don't need the Cairngorms to justify themselves. Good, honest walking.