Molls Cleuch Dod

The walk up Molls Cleuch Dod isn't long, but it's steep enough to make you feel like you've earned the effort. You're looking at roughly 45 minutes to the summit from the car park near Moffat, climbing through moorland that gets progressively windier the higher you go. The peak itself sits at 567 metres and offers proper views across Dumfries and Galloway - on a clear day you can see right across the Southern Uplands. It's not dramatic in the way some Scottish peaks are, but it's genuine hill country with real conviction.

This one works well for experienced walkers who want something achievable without needing a full day, or families with older kids who don't mind a proper scramble. The path is clear enough but can get boggy lower down, so waterproof boots are non-negotiable. Allow about two hours return, including time to catch your breath at the top.

If you're staying at Riverside Holiday Park just outside Moffat, this makes a solid morning outing before heading down for lunch in town. The Lowlands aren't for everyone - there's nothing dramatic about the scenery - but the walking is honest and the isolation genuine. Don't expect the romance of the Highlands; expect instead a real sense of having got somewhere on your own two feet.