Borthaugh Hill

Borthaugh Hill sits just outside Hawick, a proper straightforward walk that rewards you with genuine views across the Scottish Borders rolling country. Nothing flashy about it - just a decent climb through moorland with the kind of light that changes every ten minutes depending on what the clouds are doing.

It's the sort of hill walkers actually prefer to the more famous peaks nearby. You get the exertion without the crowds, and the summit gives you sightlines across to the Cheviot Hills when visibility's decent. Allow a couple of hours there and back depending on your pace and how many times you stop to turn round and look at where you've come from.

Families with older kids will manage it fine. Younger ones might find it a slog - it's not technical, but it's not a stroll either. The ground can be boggy in places, particularly after rain, so decent boots matter more than here on a dry day.

If you're staying at Stouslie Snugs nearby - that luxury farm glamping spot just a couple of miles away - this makes an obvious half-day outing. Gets you out properly without eating your whole afternoon. The walk works best in the clearer months, spring through early autumn, though locals will tell you autumn light across these hills is genuinely hard to beat. Completely free, obviously. Just turn up.