Blackshaw Hill

The walk up Blackshaw Hill takes you through proper moorland, and on a clear day you get views across North Ayrshire that stretch all the way to the Clyde. It's not a mountaineer's challenge - more of a brisk afternoon ramble - but the climb is steady enough to earn those views.

What makes it work is the straightforwardness of it all. You head up, the landscape opens out, and suddenly you can see for miles. The moorland itself has that wild Scottish feel without needing you to pack crampons or leave home at dawn. Most people will manage the walk in two to three hours depending on fitness and whether you stop to actually look about.

Families with older kids will get on fine with it. Younger ones might find it a touch dull once the novelty of "walking up a hill" wears off after the first twenty minutes. History types won't find much to scratch that particular itch - it's about the land itself rather than what happened on it.

If you're staying at Parkdean Resorts Sandylands Holiday Park nearby, this makes a decent half-day option to break up the usual park routine. It's free to access and there are no facilities at the summit, so bring water. Spring and autumn are your best bets weather-wise, though the exposed position means conditions can shift quickly. Not essential viewing, but a solid day out if you've got the legs for it.