Beacon Hill

The walk up Beacon Hill takes about forty minutes if you're moving at a decent pace, and the view from the 278-metre summit pretty much justifies every step. You're looking out across Dumfries and the Solway Firth towards the Lake District fells - on a clear day it's genuinely stunning. The hill itself sits just north of Dumfries, so it's accessible enough without being tedious to reach.

It's not a technical climb. The paths are well-trodden and straightforward, which means families with older kids will have no trouble, though younger ones might find the last push to the top a bit of a slog. Walkers will appreciate that it's short enough to fit into a morning but substantial enough to feel like proper exercise. History buffs should know this is an old beacon site - hence the name - used for signalling, though there's not much left to see of that these days.

Allowing two hours for the round trip is sensible. It's free, naturally, and there's no gatekeeping. Early morning or late afternoon light is worth timing for if you can manage it.

If you're staying at Hemplands Farm or Halleaths Caravan Park, both within a few miles, Beacon Hill works well as a morning walk before heading into Dumfries proper for lunch. It's the sort of outing that feels good to have done without requiring any real planning - which is rather the point of a park holiday.