Laughenghie Hill

The walk up Laughenghie Hill takes the best part of an hour, depending on fitness and how often you stop to catch your breath. It's not technically demanding - more relentless than tricky - but the reward at the top is properly worth the slog. From Castle Douglas, you're looking at a straightforward drive to the trailhead, and on a clear day the views sweep across Dumfries and Galloway's rolling farmland towards the Southern Uplands.

What makes this one work for a park-based holiday is its accessibility. You don't need technical gear or a dawn start. Families with older kids will manage it fine, though younger ones might grumble on the steeper sections. The summit itself is modest - no dramatic cairn or shelter - but that's rather the point. You get genuine quiet, proper perspectives, and none of the tourist machinery.

If you're staying at Loch Ken Holiday Park just down the road, this is a natural half-day option. The loch itself is lovely for a paddle or gentle stroll, but Laughenghie gives you something more muscular. Go mid-week if you can; weekends bring a few more boots to the path. Autumn works particularly well, when the light turns golden and the midges have given up entirely.

Allow two to three hours for the round trip including breaks. There's a car park at the base - it's free and rarely rammed. Bring a waterproof regardless of the forecast. This corner of Scotland changes moods quickly.