Ewe Hill

The walk up Ewe Hill takes about forty minutes if you're not dawdling, and the view across Dumfries & Galloway makes every step worth it. You're looking out towards the Nithsdale Valley from near Thornhill, which means on a clear day you can see for miles - proper expansive stuff. It's not a dramatic peak or anything, but that's rather the point. This is gentle hill country, the kind of place where you can actually breathe and think instead of scrambling over rocks.

Walkers will get the most from it, obviously. Families with older children do fine here too, though younger kids might grumble about the climb. The path itself is straightforward enough - no technical nonsense - and locals use it regularly. There's nothing fancy waiting at the top: no café, no visitor centre, just good air and a proper sense of accomplishment.

It works brilliantly as part of a longer exploration of the area. Stay at Penpont Holiday Park (less than two miles away) and you've got easy access to this plus all the other walking around Thornhill. Sunnyside Lodges, a bit further out but highly rated, gives you a quieter base if you want to escape the slightly busier bits. The best time is when the weather's settled - wet hillsides aren't particularly fun - and early morning clears the paths nicely. Admission's free, as is parking if you know where to stop. Allow two to three hours if you're going at a normal pace and actually enjoying the views rather than racing.