Dalmahoy Hill

The walk up Dalmahoy Hill takes about forty minutes from the car park, and you're rewarded with proper views across Edinburgh and the Pentland Hills beyond. It's not a dramatic summit - the peak sits at just over 280 metres - but on a clear day you can pick out the castle and Arthur's Seat from the ridge, which beats sitting in traffic on the bypass.

The route itself is straightforward: grassy slopes with a decent path, though it gets a bit muddy after rain. You'll see walkers of all abilities here, from families with kids to serious hikers using it as a warm-up before tackling the Pentlands proper. Allow a couple of hours if you're not rushing and want to sit around at the top with a coffee.

It's free, obviously, and works brilliantly as a quick escape from central Edinburgh without needing to drive far. Newbridge is your nearest town for supplies, just a couple of miles away. The hill makes a sensible half-day addition to a caravan holiday at Linwater - you're not committing to a full day's expedition, but you're actually getting somewhere with a view rather than just pottering about a local park.

Winter can be grim up here - exposed and wind-blasted - so spring through early autumn is your window. Go on a weekday morning if you can; weekends draw enough people that it loses its quietness.