Barsolis (Bàrr Solais)

The walk up Barsolis is straightforward enough - a proper hill rather than a mountain, with the summit sitting just shy of 800 metres. You'll find it near Castle Douglas in Dumfries and Galloway, a part of Scotland that doesn't get the crowds you'd expect. The views from the top sweep across the Southern Uplands, rolling away in waves of moorland and forest. On a clear day, you can see quite far indeed. The ascent takes about an hour from the car park, following a well-trodden path that climbs steadily but never gets steep enough to cause grief. It's the sort of hill walkers do without fussing over maps, though checking the weather beforehand is sensible - the exposed summit gets wind.

This works best for anyone after a genuine walk rather than a casual stroll. Families with older kids will manage it fine; younger ones might find the hour a bit much unless they're keen. History buffs won't find much up there, but the surrounding landscape tells its own story if you know where to look. There's no visitor centre or tearoom, which means you're relying on what you bring up with you.

Camp at Loch Ken Holiday Park (four miles away) or Mollance Farm if you're after a proper base. The walk itself is free, naturally - it's a Scottish hill. Allow two to three hours for the round trip if you're taking it leisurely. Go in late spring or early autumn when the weather's most cooperative and the midges haven't reached their peak.