Barntimpen Hill

The walk up Barntimpen Hill is a proper leg-stretcher, and you'll earn the view. Starting from the outskirts of Moffat, it's a straightforward trudge uphill through moorland that gets progressively wilder the higher you climb. Nothing fancy - just open Scottish landscape and the occasional sheep staring at you as if you're the one out of place.

What you get at the top is worth the effort: a genuine panorama across Dumfries and Galloway that stretches for miles. On a clear day the distant hills layer into blue nothingness. The walk takes roughly two hours there and back, depending on your fitness and how often you stop to catch your breath.

This is walker territory, full stop. Families with young kids might find it a slog - the reward needs to matter to them, and a windswept hilltop doesn't always cut it for under-tens. History buffs won't find much here; it's all about the walking and the landscape.

There's no visitor infrastructure at the summit, so bring water and wear proper boots. The ground can be boggy even when it hasn't rained recently. Moffat itself is a pleasant enough stopping point before or after, with cafes and pubs to refuel in.

If you're based at Moffat Camping and Caravanning Club Site, this hill is practically on your doorstep - five miles away makes it an ideal half-day expedition when the weather's behaving. Go early to avoid the afternoon cloud that rolls in from the south.