Cock Hill

The walk up Cock Hill from Newton Stewart takes about ninety minutes if you're not dawdling, and it's one of those Scottish hills that doesn't look like much until you're actually on top of it. From up there, the views across Dumfries and Galloway spread out in every direction - moorland rolling into farmland, with the Solway Firth glinting away to the south on a clear day. The ascent itself is straightforward but a bit relentless if you're not a regular hill person; boots are essential after rain because it gets boggy underfoot.

This isn't a destination for sitting about with a picnic - it's a proper hill walk, which means it suits adults and older teenagers far more than young kids. The reward is genuine: on a good day you can see deep into England, and the sense of space up there is genuinely moving. Allow three hours return if you're taking your time, or two if you know what you're doing.

Newton Stewart itself is small but functional, and there's Drumroamin Farm just five miles away if you're basing yourself in a holiday park nearby. Given that this is Scottish Lowlands country, Cock Hill works brilliantly as a morning outing before heading off to explore the coast or the Wigtown peninsula. It's not dramatic like the Cairngorms, but it's honest work and the views justify the effort. Go on a weekday if you can - it's rarely crowded.