Phantassie Hill

The walk up Phantassie Hill takes about twenty minutes if you're moving at a decent pace, and the effort pays off once you're standing on top looking out across East Lothian. It's not a dramatic peak - nothing like the Highlands - but that's rather the point. The views stretch across rolling farmland towards the coast, and on a clear day you can pick out the Bass Rock sitting offshore like a stone sentinel.

This is proper walking country, the sort of place where locals come to clear their heads rather than tourists queuing for photos. The hill itself is accessible enough for families with reasonable fitness, though the final stretch gets a bit muddy after rain. There's a modest cairn at the summit, nothing fancy, but the panorama makes it worthwhile. Walkers and hikers will get the most from it - expect to spend an hour total including the walk down.

If you're based at Haven Seton Sands Holiday Village just down the road, Phantassie Hill makes for a brilliant half-day excursion before heading back for a pint. The village of East Lothian itself is close by, so you can combine it with exploring the local coast or trying one of the farm shops nearby. It's free to visit, naturally - no gates, no fees, just Scottish countryside as it should be. Go early morning if the weather's decent; the light's better and you'll likely have the summit to yourself.