Meg's Hill

The walk up Meg's Hill takes about forty minutes from Stranraer, and it's genuinely worth the effort. Nothing dramatic - at 370 metres it's hardly a mountain - but the views across the Solway Firth and down to the Rhins of Galloway are proper rewards for a modest climb. On a clear day you can see into England, which always feels like a small victory.

It's the kind of walk that suits families who want something achievable without the commitment of a full fell day. Kids won't get bored if the weather's decent, though I'd avoid it when the wind picks up - the exposed sections can be a bit much for younger legs. The path's straightforward enough, well-trodden from regular foot traffic.

What makes it worth the detour is less the summit itself (you're standing on moorland, not gazing from a dramatic viewpoint) and more the walk there and back. The whole outing takes two to three hours depending on pace, which fits nicely into a holiday staying at Sands of Luce Holiday Park just down the coast. You get some proper Dumfries and Galloway landscape without needing hiking boots or an Ordnance Survey degree.

Best visited from April through October when the weather's more cooperative. There's no charge, no cafe at the top - bring water and a snack. It's straightforward walking rather than a tourist attraction, which is rather the point.