Barlocco Hill

The walk up Barlocco Hill takes about forty minutes from Castle Douglas, and on a clear day you get views across the Solway Firth that stretch into England - proper worth the effort. It's not a mountain; more of a solid hump with a trig point at the top, but the surrounding moorland gives you real breathing space without the crowds you'd find on the Lake District peaks just across the water.

The path is straightforward enough, marked and not particularly technical, though it can be boggy after rain. Most walkers find it doable in trainers if you're reasonably fit. You're looking at two to three hours if you're not rushing and want to sit about at the top with a flask.

Families with kids aged ten and up will get something out of it. Younger children might find the walk dull - it's moorland and views rather than drama. What makes it worthwhile is how few people you'll see up there. This isn't a Instagram-famous peak; it's a proper local walk where you might spot curlew or get lucky with a buzzard.

If you're staying at Castle Point Caravan and Camping Site just outside town, it's an ideal morning sortie. Castle Douglas itself has decent enough restaurants and shops to sort you out afterwards. The whole thing is free, naturally - Scottish hills don't charge. Go when it's settled weather; mist renders the views pointless and the walk becomes a slog through cloud.