Knockman

The walk up Knockman isn't long, but it's steep enough to leave you properly breathless. From Castle Douglas, it's a straightforward drive south before you're parking up and facing what looks like a modest hill - until you're halfway up and your legs are reminding you otherwise.

What you get for the effort is a viewpoint that sweeps across Dumfries and Galloway in all directions. On a clear day, you can pick out distant peaks and the rolling farmland that makes this part of Scotland feel far quieter than it actually is. The summit itself is bare and windswept, which means either brilliant views or a wall of cloud - there's no middle ground.

It's the kind of walk that suits families with older kids or anyone doing the park circuit around Loch Ken Holiday Park. If you're staying nearby, it's a decent afternoon sortie - takes maybe an hour return, including a breather at the top. Younger children might find the gradient a grind, though nothing technical or dangerous.

The real appeal is that it feels properly wild without requiring serious hillwalking kit. You won't need to book anything or pay fees. The best visits tend to be late afternoon when the light turns golden and there are fewer midges about. Don't expect solitude - it's popular enough with locals - but you will earn your tea.