Shiel Gair Rig

The walk up Shiel Gair Rig from Biggar takes you through proper hill country - moorland that opens up rather than closes in, which is refreshing if you've done the claustrophobic forest stuff elsewhere. It's not high by any measure, but the views across the Southern Uplands justify the leg work, especially on a clear day when you can see for miles across South Lanarkshire.

You'll be sharing the ridge with walkers rather than crowds, which means you can actually think up here. The path isn't fussy about boots - it's muddy when wet, fine when dry, like most Scottish hills of this height. The whole outing takes a couple of hours depending on your pace and how often you stop to look around.

This appeals to hill walkers who want something genuine without the three-hour slog. Families with confident teenagers will manage it fine, though younger kids might find the moorland a bit samey. If you're based at Mount View Caravan Park near Biggar, it's a natural morning or afternoon tick-off before heading back for tea.

It's free, of course - there's no gatekeeping on Scottish hills. The landscape up here feels worked-in rather than wild, with sheep and evidence of old farming everywhere you look. That's part of its charm. You're not pretending you're on an expedition; you're taking a proper walk through land that's been shaped by centuries of use. Go when the weather's settled. Mist makes it forgettable.