Ayrshire

Wild moorland stretches inland from the Clyde coast here, where ancient hillforts and prehistoric settlements dot landscapes that feel wonderfully untamed. This corner of North Ayrshire serves up proper Scottish countryside - rolling hills like Langside Hill and The Twins offer cracking walks with views across to Arran on clear days, while archaeologists will love poking around Aitnock's Iron Age dun site.

The coastal strip tells a different story entirely. Ardrossan's working harbour still bustles with CalMac ferries heading to the islands, and the railway connections are brilliant - you can catch trains from Ardrossan Harbour, Ardrossan Town, or nearby Irvine and Stevenston stations straight into Glasgow. That proximity to the city makes this area perfect for escaping without the usual Scottish holiday trek.

Walking dominates here, frankly. The hills - Cock Law, Little Green Law, Meikle Green Law, Green Hill, and Sheep Hill - form a proper ridge system that rewards anyone willing to lace up boots. Auldmuir Reservoir sits tucked among them, a quiet spot that sees far fewer visitors than the flashier lochs up north.

Staying at one of the holiday parks near Ardrossan puts you right in the sweet spot. You're close enough to nip into Glasgow for shopping or culture, yet surrounded by countryside that feels genuinely remote. The War Memorial stands as a sobering reminder of the area's more recent history, while those ancient sites speak to thousands of years of human settlement in these hills.