Bow Hill

The walk up Bow Hill is a proper Scottish outing - nothing technical, but it's got enough grunt to feel like you've earned the views at the top. You're looking at roughly 45 minutes each way from Castle Douglas, which sits just south of here in Dumfries and Galloway. The peak itself isn't dramatic - it's a modest 722 metres - but on a clear day the Lowlands spread out beneath you in a way that makes the climb worthwhile.

The path is straightforward enough for families with decent legs, though younger kids might find the slog tedious. Walkers will appreciate the moorland setting and the genuine sense of elevation you get despite the modest height. History types won't find much up there bar the landscape itself, which has barely changed in centuries.

Worth allowing two hours total if you're the sort to pause and soak it in. Get up early to avoid the afternoon clouds rolling in - this corner of Scotland can turn grey quickly. There's no admission fee, naturally, and parking is found near the base of the track.

If you're bedded down at one of the caravan parks nearby - Galloway Glamping is barely a mile away, or Loch Ken Holiday Park if you prefer somewhere larger - Bow Hill makes an excellent half-day leg-stretcher. It's the kind of spot that's worth the detour only if you're already in the area. Don't go out of your way for it, but if the weather's right and you're based locally, it's cracking enough.