Inner Black Hill

The walk up Inner Black Hill takes about 45 minutes from the car park, and honestly, it's steeper than it looks from below. You're climbing proper moorland terrain - rough grass, the occasional boggy bit, nothing technical but your calves will know about it by the top. The summit itself sits at 1,600 feet, and on a clear day you get views across the Stirling area that stretch for miles. Glasgow's visible off to the southwest on a good day, which puts into perspective just how high you actually are.

This is walker territory, really. Families with young children will struggle unless they're already used to hills, and the boggy patches mean proper boots are essential - trainers will be soaked within ten minutes. The moorland itself is fairly bleak, which some people find magnificent and others find a bit grim depending on the weather. Go when it's clear, not when it's drizzling.

The WHW Hotel & Campsite sits just four miles away, making it a solid base if you're combining this with other Stirling area walks. Free to access, no facilities on the hill itself, so bring water. The real draw here is the isolation and the panoramic views rather than any specific landmark or feature - it's the kind of walk where you're mainly after exercise and fresh air rather than ticking off a famous spot.