Balmeadow Hill

The walk up Balmeadow Hill from Cupar is one of those satisfying Scottish outings where you're rewarded without needing to commit to a full day's expedition. It's not dramatic - you won't get the jaw-dropping vistas of the higher Perthshire peaks - but on a clear day the views across Fife are proper lovely, and the walk itself takes a gentle two hours at a steady pace.

What makes it work is the simplicity. You get a decent elevation gain without the knees taking a battering, and the paths are well-trodden enough that you won't spend half the time consulting your phone. Families with older kids (say, eight upwards) will manage it fine; younger ones might find the last stretch up to the summit a bit of a slog. Dog-walkers love it.

There's nothing at the top except a trig point and countryside in all directions - no café, no facilities - so bring water and something to eat if you plan to linger. Go in the morning when the light's clearer and you haven't got the afternoon sun washing out the views. Late spring through early autumn is best; winter mud can be fierce.

It fits nicely into a broader Fife weekend. The nearby holiday parks - Snugs at Logie Farm is cracking if you want proper accommodation, or Annsmuir if you need something with more facilities - sit close enough that you could base yourself there and explore the wider area between walks. Balmeadow won't take your breath away, but it's exactly what a midweek hillwalk should be.