Heip Hill

The walk up Heip Hill from Hawick takes you onto proper high moorland - nothing fancy, just genuine Scottish Borders countryside where you can actually breathe. It's not a mountain, more a substantial ridge that climbs steadily enough to earn the views at the top. On a clear day you're looking across rolling border hills that seem to go on for ever, with Hawick tucked below in the valley.

This is walkers' terrain, straightforward and honest. Families with older kids will manage it fine, but it's not a casual stroll - allow a couple of hours return from the town. The path is a bit rough in places and can be muddy after rain, so proper boots matter. There's nothing mysterious or difficult about it, which is partly the appeal. You won't queue, you won't find yourself surrounded by tour groups, and you'll have genuine solitude up there.

Best tackled in the morning when the light's good and you've got the whole day ahead. Late afternoon can be moody on the moors, but it's also when you get the best light if you're after photographs. Spring through early autumn is ideal - winter can turn it properly wild.

If you're based at Stouslie Snugs Luxury Farm Glamping just outside Hawick, this makes an excellent morning or afternoon outing. It's the kind of walk that clears your head without destroying your legs, and it ties in nicely with exploring Hawick itself or tackling some of the longer routes deeper into the Borders.