Benan Hill

A modest hill that rewards a short walk with views across Dumfries and the surrounding farmland. Benan Hill isn't dramatic or particularly high, but it's the sort of place that makes sense if you're staying at Red Squirrel Campsite - literally on the doorstep - and fancy stretching your legs without committing to a full day out.

The ascent takes about twenty minutes from the base, and it's straightforward rather than challenging. You get a proper sense of the town laid out below, the River Nith winding through, and on a clear day the landscape rolls away in all directions. The view isn't jaw-dropping, but it's pleasant enough, and there's something satisfying about bagging a summit that doesn't require proper hiking boots.

Worth doing if you're camped nearby with an hour to kill on a morning, or as a warm-up walk before heading further into Dumfries & Galloway. It's free, obviously - it's a hill. Not the sort of destination that justifies a special trip into town, but paired with exploring Dumfries itself, or as part of a longer walking day combining nearby parks like Penpont Holiday Park or Newbridge Country Park, it fits in nicely. Families with young kids will manage it fine. Go on a clear day though; in the drizzle it's forgettable.