Hoselaw Loch and Din Moss

The walk around Hoselaw Loch is quiet in a way that proper Scottish Borders countryside does quiet - no drama, just space and water and the occasional splash of a trout breaking the surface. It's a modest body of water near Coldstream, nothing that'll make you gasp, but that's rather the point. Din Moss stretches alongside, a patch of boggy ground where the light changes constantly depending on the cloud cover.

You're looking at a nature reserve that appeals to birdwatchers and walkers in equal measure. Bring binoculars if you're serious about spotting anything beyond the mallards and moorhens. The loch itself is encircled by a reasonable path - flat enough for families with older kids, though not pram-friendly in places where it gets a touch muddy. Allow an hour for the circuit without rushing, longer if you're stopping to identify birds or photograph the reflections.

It's the kind of spot that rewards a quiet morning rather than a afternoon visit when the sun's hammering down. Spring and autumn work best, when the water's high and the light sits differently on the moorland beyond. Free to visit, no facilities to speak of, so come prepared.

If you're based at Coldstream Holiday Park just five miles away, this makes a solid half-day outing, particularly if you're the sort who finds peace in spare landscapes rather than drama. It won't thrill, but it will settle you.