Sanquhar Hill

The walk up Sanquhar Hill takes about an hour from Newton Stewart, and on a clear day the views across Dumfries & Galloway are genuinely worth the leg work. It's not a brutal climb - the path is well-defined and steady rather than steep, which means you're not gasping for air when you reach the summit.

What you get at the top is a proper panorama. On good visibility days, you can pick out the Solway Firth to the south and the hills rolling away inland. The sort of view that makes you forget you're in the Lowlands, not the Highlands.

Family groups will manage this fine. Kids aged seven and upwards won't complain, and there's something satisfying about conquering an actual peak even if it's only 1,000-odd feet. The walk itself is the thing though - you're doing this for the exercise and the perspective, not for facilities at the top. Bring a flask.

It works brilliantly as a morning outing if you're staying at Drumroamin Farm, which is just a couple of miles away. Get up early, bag the hill before the light goes harsh, then head down to Newton Stewart for lunch. The hill is free to access and open year-round, though winter mudsloes are worth keeping in mind after heavy rain. Allow two to three hours total including the return walk and time at the summit to catch your breath.