Glenlaggen Hill

The walk up Glenlaggen Hill takes the better part of an hour, and it's a proper slog in places - steep enough that you'll feel it in your thighs on the way down. But the views across Dumfries and Galloway open out as you climb, and from the top you get the kind of 360-degree sweep that makes the huffing worthwhile. Clear days give you sight lines towards the Lake District to the south, and the rolling farmland spreads out like a patchwork beneath you.

Castle Douglas sits just a few miles away, so this works well as a half-day excursion if you're based in town. The hill itself isn't technical - it's a straightforward walk rather than a scramble - which means families with older kids and regular walkers will find it manageable. Bring good boots though; the ground gets boggy near the top, and Scottish weather can turn on you without warning.

If you're staying at Loch Ken Holiday Park or Galloway Glamping, this makes an easy morning or afternoon outing before heading back for tea. The peak isn't particularly high, so don't expect Alpine drama, but it's exactly the sort of local walk that reveals why people actually choose to spend weeks in this part of Scotland rather than just passing through. No facilities on the hill itself - start early if you want to avoid climbing in fading light.