Screel Hill

Screel Hill rises sharply above Castle Douglas, offering proper views across Dumfries & Galloway if you're willing to graft for them. The walk isn't long - you're looking at forty minutes to the top, maybe an hour if you're taking it easy - but it's steep enough to feel like actual exercise rather than a gentle stroll.

What you get for the effort is a 1,000-foot summit with sight lines across the Solway Firth and down towards the Galloway hills. Clear days are brilliant; misty ones mean you've essentially paid to climb a hill and see nothing much. The path is straightforward and reasonably well-maintained, though it can be boggy in patches after rain.

This works best for walkers rather than families with small kids - the gradient would knacker most under-tens, and there's no facilities at the top so you need to be self-sufficient. History types won't find much here beyond the landscape itself, though the views explain why people bothered settling in this part of the world.

If you're staying at Kippford View Holiday Park or one of the other spots nearby, Screel Hill makes a decent half-day outing. It's only a few miles from Castle Douglas, so you can knock it off before lunch without eating into proper holiday time. Free to access, obviously - it's a hill. Allow two hours total, including descent. Worth it on a clear day; less so if the weather's turned.