Black Law

The walk up Black Law from Biggar is a proper grind, but the 576-metre summit rewards you with views that stretch across the Southern Uplands on a clear day. It's moorland terrain - boggy in places, especially after rain - and you'll want boots rather than trainers. The ascent takes around an hour from the nearest parking, maybe 90 minutes if you're not a regular hill walker. There's no much up there beyond the trig point and the wind, but that's rather the point. You get real isolation without needing technical kit or a day off work.

Families with older kids will manage fine if the weather cooperates; younger ones might find it tedious. Serious walkers treating this as a warm-up or part of a bigger route through the Lowland hills will get more from it. The real appeal is the lack of crowds and the genuine sense of being out on Scottish moorland without needing to drive into the Highlands.

There's no visitor infrastructure at the summit - bring water and something to eat. It's free to access. The nearest decent base is Mount View Caravan Park just outside Biggar, about five miles away, which gives you somewhere comfortable to return to after a muddy afternoon. Worth doing if you're already in the area exploring the Lowlands, less worth a special trip on its own.