Cuff Hill

The walk up Cuff Hill from Lochwinnoch is a proper little workout, but the views across the Clyde Valley make it worthwhile. You're looking at a couple of hours there and back - nothing too demanding, but steep enough that you'll feel it in your legs on the way down.

It's the sort of place that appeals to keen walkers rather than casual strollers. The path itself is straightforward enough, but there's no dodging the gradient. What you get for your effort is a genuine sense of having earned the vista - moorland stretching away, Lochwinnoch's loch visible below, and on a clear day you can see right across the lowlands. Not a dramatic peak by any means, but it has character.

Families with young children will struggle here. Teenagers and adults who don't mind a bit of huffing and puffing will find it decent value. The best bet is an early start to dodge afternoon mist rolling in from the west.

If you're staying at The Pods at Auchenhean nearby, this makes a solid morning's activity before heading elsewhere. It's free to walk, obviously, and there's parking in Lochwinnoch village itself. Don't expect facilities at the top - bring water. The village itself has a cafe and a few shops, so you can sort yourself out before or after. Weather matters here more than most hills - go when it's clear.