Trow Hill

The walk up Trow Hill rewards you with views across the Lowlands that stretch for miles if you pick a clear day - which, admittedly, isn't guaranteed round these parts. It's a proper little peak near Biggar, nothing too demanding, and the kind of place where you'll likely have the summit to yourself on a weekday afternoon.

The hill itself is moorland - a mix of grass and heather depending on the season - and the ascent takes the best part of an hour from the base. Not steep, just steady. On top you get the sort of panoramic sprawl that makes you understand why people bother with Scottish hills at all: farmland below, the Southern Uplands in the distance, and on a decent day you can see right across to the Borders.

It's a walker's spot, straightforward rather than showy. Families with decent-sized kids will manage it fine, though there's no café or visitor facilities at the summit - bring a flask if you plan to linger. The whole outing takes maybe two hours if you're not hanging about.

Stay at Mount View Caravan Park, just 3.6 miles away, and you've got a solid base for exploring this bit of South Lanarkshire. Trow Hill works as a morning walk before heading into Biggar for lunch, or as a leg-stretcher between other local walks. Free, naturally. Go when the weather forecast actually looks promising.