Windy Hill

The climb up Windy Hill rewards you with views across Renfrewshire that stretch for miles on a clear day. It's not a massive peak - around 300 metres - but the walk itself is straightforward enough that you won't spend half the day trudging uphill. From the summit you get proper panoramic stuff: across to the Clyde Valley, back towards the Lowlands, and on a decent day you can see why locals bother making the trek.

This one suits walkers after a quick leg-stretch rather than a full-day expedition. Families with older kids will manage it fine; the sort of walk where you're not knackered at the top but still feel like you've done something. The views are genuinely good without being dramatic - very Scottish Lowlands, gentle rather than wild.

Lochwinnoch sits just down the way and makes a natural base if you're exploring the area. The Pods at Auchenhean, only a few miles off, offers decent accommodation if you're planning to stay put and do a few walks in the region rather than rushing through.

Timing-wise, you'll want decent weather for this one - wind and low cloud make the views pretty useless. Pick a clear morning if you can. There's no charge to visit and no formal opening hours, so you're free to head up whenever suits. Allow a couple of hours total if you're not racing.