Soundly Hill

The climb up Soundly Hill rewards you with proper views across Dumfries & Galloway - on a clear day you can see right over to the coast near Stranraer. It's not a dramatic peak by any means, but that's rather the point. The walk itself is straightforward enough, taking the best part of an hour to reach the top without breaking a sweat.

Walkers will find this one genuinely worthwhile. The landscape opens up as you gain height, rolling farmland giving way to wider vistas. You're not fighting through crowds either, which makes a change. Families with reasonably fit kids will manage it fine, though younger ones might find the final stretch a bit of a slog.

If you're staying at Sands of Luce Holiday Park just down the road, Soundly Hill makes for a solid morning out before heading back for lunch. The approach is gentle enough that you won't return knackered. There's nothing fancy at the summit - no café, no visitor centre - just space to sit and actually look at the view rather than queue for the privilege.

Go mid-week if you can. Weekends tend to draw more people, which rather defeats the purpose of somewhere this quiet. The walk's fine in most weather, though those cloud-covered days when you can barely see twenty metres ahead will leave you wondering why you bothered.