Foreside Hill

The walk up Foreside Hill takes about forty minutes from Biggar, and it's one of those climbs that feels properly rewarding without being a full day out. The summit sits at just over 500 metres, so you're not gasping for air, but the views across South Lanarkshire spread out in every direction - moorland rolling away toward the hills beyond. On a clear day you can pick out landmarks that'll help you navigate the region.

It's best suited to families with kids aged eight upwards and anyone after a straightforward peak walk that doesn't require scrambling or technical bits. The path is well-trodden, though it can get boggy after rain, so proper boots matter. Allow two hours return if you're taking it steady and want time at the top to eat a sandwich and actually look around.

The heather moorland itself is the main draw here - there's no café or facilities at the summit, just the open air and the walk itself. Go in late summer or early autumn when the heather's in flower and the light starts getting that golden quality that makes everything look proper photogenic.

If you're based at Mount View Caravan Park near Biggar, this works as a morning expedition before heading elsewhere. It's local knowledge stuff rather than a showstopper destination, but that's precisely why it's worth doing - you'll have the hill largely to yourself while other walkers clog up the better-known peaks in the national parks further west.