Kirkbreen Hill

Kirkbreen Hill isn't the sort of peak that screams "come and climb me", but that's rather the point. Rising above Newton Stewart, this modest summit offers a proper walk without the crowds you'd find fighting their way up anything in the Lakes. The views across Dumfries and Galloway are worth the effort - rolling farmland stretching out beneath you, the kind of landscape that makes you remember why Scotland's Lowlands get overlooked. It's accessible enough for a family outing on a dry afternoon, though the path can get boggy after rain.

Allow a solid two hours for a round trip if you're coming from Newton Stewart. The summit itself is unremarkable - there's no trig point to admire, no café at the top - but that's never really been the draw. What you get is genuine quiet and the satisfaction of having earned your view without needing crampons or specialist kit. Walkers who prefer their countryside to actual civilization will love it. Young kids might find the trudge dull unless you make a game of spotting what's what on the horizon below.

If you're staying at Drumroamin Farm, just four miles away, this makes an excellent morning or late-afternoon circuit. Park near Newton Stewart and expect muddy boots. Bring waterproofs as standard - this is the Lowlands, not the Mediterranean. Go when the weather's showing promise rather than threatening rain, and you'll understand why locals keep this one quiet.