Castle Hill

The walk up Castle Hill near Dalbeattie rewards you with proper views across the Solway Firth and into England - on a clear day you can pick out the Lake District fells. It's a straightforward climb, nothing too taxing, taking about half an hour to reach the summit where an iron age fort once stood. These days there's not much to see of the actual fortifications, but the vantage point alone makes the effort worthwhile.

Locals use this walk regularly, which tells you something. The path is well-maintained and popular with families wanting a quick leg-stretch and a bit of history thrown in. You're looking at an hour or so all in if you take your time at the top. Free to visit, naturally - just park near Dalbeattie and follow the signs.

If you're based at one of the nearby caravan parks - Kippford Holiday Park and Castle Point are practically on the doorstep - this makes an excellent morning outing before heading down to the coast. Sandyhills Bay is worth the short drive if you fancy combining a hillwalk with beach time. The Solway area has enough going on to keep you occupied for a week, and Castle Hill slots in nicely as a warm-up rather than a day in itself. Go when the weather's settled - Scottish mist ruins the views entirely, and you'll miss what you came for.