Knockloch

The walk up Knockloch isn't long, but it's steep enough to leave you breathing hard before you reach the summit. From Castle Douglas, it's a straightforward drive south - you'll spot the peak rising above the surrounding moorland, a proper little pyramid of a hill. What makes it worth the effort is the view. On a clear day you can see right across Dumfries and Galloway, with Loch Ken stretched out below like a sheet of pewter. The panorama sweeps across the Scottish Lowlands in all directions, and it feels like you're standing on top of a secret rather than a tourist trap.

Allow yourself 90 minutes for the full outing if you're reasonably fit - less if you're quick on your feet. The path itself is rough in places but manageable year-round, though it gets properly boggy after heavy rain. Best visited in autumn or early spring when the midges aren't determined to eat you alive. Families with older kids will manage fine; younger ones might struggle with the final push to the cairn at the top.

It's a natural fit with a stay at Loch Ken Holiday Park four and a half miles away - you could combine the walk with a morning at the loch itself. The hill works well as a mid-week escape from longer drives to bigger attractions. Not a destination in itself, but honest work for a half-day, and the view absolutely justifies the climb.