Kirvennie Hill

The walk up Kirvennie Hill from Newton Stewart takes about forty minutes if you're moving steadily, and you'll spend most of it climbing through mixed woodland before the trees thin out and the view opens up properly. It's not a lung-busting slog - the gradient's reasonable throughout - but it's enough to remind your legs you're on holiday in Scotland rather than lounging on a beach.

Once you're up there, the Lowlands spread out in front of you with that soft, rolling quality they do so well. You can see across towards the Merrick on a clear day, and the distant hills create proper layers of perspective. The summit itself is modest - a cairn, some bracken, a bench if you're lucky - but that's rather the point. This isn't about dramatic peaks or Instagram moments. It's about the quiet satisfaction of having climbed something and earned the view.

Families with teenagers will manage it without drama. Younger kids might find the final push dull, especially in poor visibility. Walkers staying at Drumroamin Farm - just three miles away - could do this as a morning outing and still have the afternoon free for exploring Newton Stewart itself or heading out to Loch Ken nearby.

Go when the midges aren't biting, so basically May through September, though September tends to be fresher. There's no visitor infrastructure, so bring water and don't expect facilities at the top. Free to access, naturally.