Mull Hill

The walk up Mull Hill rewards you with views across the Rhins of Galloway that make the climb feel justified, even on a grey afternoon. It's a proper little summit for the Scottish Lowlands - nothing extreme, but enough elevation to feel like you've earned it. From the top you can see right across to the Irish coast on clear days, which gives the whole thing a bit of drama.

This is the sort of place that suits walkers who don't want scrambling or technical bits, but do want something more substantial than a flat stroll. Families with kids aged eight or nine upwards will manage it fine. Allow two hours for the round trip from Stranraer, which sits just five miles south. The hill doesn't require any special equipment or booking - just turn up and go.

If you're staying at Sands of Luce Holiday Park nearby, Mull Hill makes a cracking half-day excursion that breaks up a week of beach time and exploring the Dumfries & Galloway coastline. The ground can get boggy after rain, so decent boots matter. The wind can be fierce at the top too, even when the valley is calm. Go for the views rather than the path itself - it's a working hill rather than a scenic wonder, but that's rather the point.