Rhone Hill

The walk up Rhone Hill rewards you with proper panoramic views across Dumfries and Galloway - moorland rolling away in every direction, and on a clear day you can pick out the Solway Firth towards England. It's not a mountain, more a substantial rounded peak that takes the best part of an hour to climb depending on your fitness and the path conditions. The terrain is manageable enough for reasonably fit families, though younger kids might find the ascent a slog.

Access is straightforward from Castle Douglas - you're looking at a fairly direct hike with no scrambling or technical bits. The views justify the effort: the kind of vantage point where you suddenly understand how the landscape connects. Walkers tend to do this one and be pleased they did, rather than blown away. If you're basing yourself at one of the nearby glamping or caravan parks - Galloway Glamping and Mollance Farm are both excellently rated - Rhone Hill makes a solid half-day outing.

Bring a windproof even if the forecast looks promising. The exposed ridge gets properly blustery, and the ground can be boggy in places after rain. Free to visit, obviously. Allow a good two hours including time to linger at the top and take in the views without rushing. Good for stretching the legs during a week's caravan holiday in the area, though not a destination in itself.