Hairy Craig

Hairy Craig isn't the sort of summit that'll take your breath away with a view across three countries. But that's rather the point. This modest East Lothian peak near Dunbar offers something better than Instagram spectacle - proper solitude and a genuine sense of having earned your walk.

The climb itself is straightforward, nothing that'll punish your legs or require scrambling gear. Most people allow 45 minutes to an hour depending on fitness, and the path is well-trodden enough that you won't spend time navigating. The reward at the top is local rather than grand: you can pick out Dunbar's coast, the surrounding farmland rolling away inland, and on a clear day, the Bass Rock sitting out in the Firth of Forth. It's the sort of view that matters more when you've walked for it.

Family groups with reasonably confident walkers will find this manageable without drama. Young kids might find it a bit of a slog for limited payoff at the summit, but teenagers will likely enjoy it as a proper wee hike rather than a park stroll. Go in the morning before the weather turns Scottish and unpredictable.

If you're based at Belhaven Bay Caravan Park, which sits just down the road near the coast, Hairy Craig makes an excellent half-day venture. It's the sort of walk that fills a morning without eating into beach time or afternoon plans. Not spectacular, but satisfyingly real.