Hawkwood Hill

The walk up Hawkwood Hill isn't long, but it's steep enough to get your heart going. Once you're at the top near Biggar, the views across South Lanarkshire spread out properly - rolling farmland, distant hills, the sort of landscape that makes you understand why people settled here centuries ago.

It's a straightforward fell walk rather than a destination in itself. Most people tackle it in under an hour round trip, though you'll want longer if you're stopping to take photographs or just catching your breath. The path can be boggy after rain, so decent boots matter. On a clear day it's well worth the effort. On a grey one, frankly, you might find yourself thinking about the café in Biggar instead.

Families with reasonably fit kids will manage it fine. Younger children might struggle with the gradient, and prams are definitely ruled out. Walkers treating this as a warm-up before tackling more serious hills elsewhere will find it satisfactory but not thrilling.

If you're staying at Mount View Caravan Park just down the road, it's an obvious morning option - gets you out and active without eating the whole day. Free, naturally. No facilities at the top, so bring water. The village of Biggar itself has the usual small-town amenities, though calling it a destination would be generous. Worth doing if you're in the area for a few days, but don't drive specially for it.