Gowan Hill

The walk up Gowan Hill from Stirling takes about forty minutes if you're not dawdling, and the effort pays off with views across the Forth Valley that genuinely make you stop and stare. It's not a massive peak - nothing that'll test serious hillwalkers - but it's the kind of local favourite that locals actually use rather than just recommend to tourists.

The path is well-trodden and straightforward enough for families with older kids, though it does get a bit boggy in patches. From the top you can pick out the Wallace Monument, Stirling Castle, and on a clear day, the Ochil Hills folding away to the north. The Trossachs lie beyond that - proper wild-looking country.

This works brilliantly as a half-day outing if you're based at Witches Craig Caravan & Camping Park, just 2.4 miles from town. It's the sort of walk that clears your head without eating into a whole afternoon, leaving time to explore Stirling's town centre afterwards or catch the light hitting the castle from this vantage point at golden hour.

There's no visitor facility up top - bring water and a packed lunch if you want to linger. The path doesn't require any special gear, just decent boots for the damp bits. Winter can make it slippery, so autumn or spring are probably the best bets. It's free, obviously, and as close to a proper local experience as you'll get without actually living there.