Eccles Hill

The walk up Eccles Hill from Coldstream takes about forty minutes if you're moving at a decent pace, and the effort pays off with proper views across the Scottish Borders. It's not a dramatic peak - more a substantial hump of moorland than a mountain - but that's rather the point. You get the sense of actual landscape here rather than the theatrical stuff further north.

The approach is straightforward enough, with a decent path that locals use regularly. The summit itself isn't marked by anything dramatic, just open moorland and the kind of wind that reminds you why Scotland invented whisky. On a clear day you can see for miles across rolling border country. On a grey one - which is most days - the hills fade into mist and it feels properly atmospheric.

This suits walkers far more than families with restless kids. It's the kind of walk that demands a bit of weather and a good pair of boots, not a casual afternoon stroll. Allow a couple of hours including time to sit about and look at the view. There's nothing here in terms of facilities or interpretation, which is either refreshing or annoying depending on your tolerance for solitude.

If you're staying at Coldstream Holiday Park and fancy a decent leg-stretcher without committing to a full day's hiking, this does the job. It's genuine hill-walking rather than tourism, which keeps the crowds minimal. Worth doing on a clear day.