Meikle Dornell (Dòrnail Mòr)

The walk up Meikle Dornell isn't long, but it's steep enough to remind your legs why you brought proper boots. From Castle Douglas, you're looking at a decent hike to reach this modest peak in the Scottish Lowlands - nothing dramatic, nothing that'll take your breath away with a single glance, but oddly rewarding once you're up there.

It's the sort of hill that works well for families who've got reasonably fit kids and aren't expecting a mountain experience. The views across Dumfries and Galloway are genuinely pleasant - rolling countryside rather than dramatic peaks, which some might find underwhelming and others will appreciate for exactly that reason. Expect to be out for a couple of hours depending on your pace and how long you linger at the top.

Walking types will get the most from this one. It's not a tourist tick-box; there's no café at the summit, no crowds clogging up the path. You come here to walk, to think a bit, maybe to spot what's visible from up there on a clear day. Worth doing if you're based at one of the nearby parks - Loch Ken Holiday Park or Galloway Glamping are close enough that you could make this your afternoon rather than your entire day. Pair it with exploring Castle Douglas itself, which is a proper wee town with character.

Time it right and avoid heavy rain - these paths get boggy quickly and there's little shelter to speak of.