Clarebrand Hill

The walk up Clarebrand Hill takes roughly an hour and rewards you with proper views across Dumfries and Galloway's rolling farmland. It's not a particularly dramatic peak - nothing that'll make your jaw drop - but it's the kind of straightforward, accessible walk that works brilliantly if you're based at one of the caravan parks around Castle Douglas and the weather's being cooperative.

From the top you can see across to the Solway Firth on a clear day, which is the main draw. The route itself is gentle enough for families with older kids, though the final stretch does get a bit boggy depending on rainfall. Worth doing in the morning before the light gets hazy.

Castle Douglas sits only a couple of miles away, so you could combine this with a wander round the town's high street or a pint at one of the pubs. If you're staying at Mollance Farm Caravan Park, you're basically on the doorstep. The other parks - Loch Ken Holiday Park and Glenearly - are only four or five miles distant, making this an easy add-on to a wider Galloway break.

It's free to walk, naturally, and there's no visitor infrastructure at the summit itself. Allow two to three hours if you're taking it leisurely with a flask. The hill's best visited between April and September when the ground's more forgiving. Winter sees it turn into a proper bog in places, which dulls the appeal considerably.