Barnshangan Hill

The walk up Barnshangan Hill from Stranraer takes about forty minutes if you're moving at a decent pace, and it's one of those Scottish hills that doesn't look like much from the road but delivers a proper reward once you're up there. The summit sits at 338 metres, which doesn't sound dramatic, but the views across the Solway Firth to the Lake District fells are genuinely excellent on a clear day. You get the whole sweep of coast in one go - Luce Bay stretching out, the Irish Sea beyond, and when visibility's good, you can pick out Criffel and the English hills in the distance.

It's straightforward walking rather than scrambling, so families with kids aged eight or up will manage it fine. The path's well-worn and the gradient's steady without being brutal. Allow two hours there and back if you're not rushing, and don't bother on a drizzly afternoon - the cloud sits stubbornly on these hills when the weather's poor.

If you're staying at Sands of Luce Holiday Park just down the road, this is exactly the sort of half-day excursion that breaks up a coastal holiday nicely. It's free, obviously, and you'll likely have the hill to yourself even in summer. Bring layers - it catches the wind - and good shoes because the ground's boggy near the top after rain. Not a world-beater, but worth the effort if you're in the area.