Glasgow

Rolling hills dotted with ancient mottes and weathered stone circles stretch out from this small pocket of Stirling, where farming communities have worked the land for centuries. The countryside here feels properly Scottish - all dry stone walls and glimpses of distant lochs through stands of oak and birch.

Balfron forms the heart of this agricultural area, with its library and the rather grand William McCandlish Memorial Drinking Fountain marking the village centre. But it's the archaeological treasures that really catch the eye. Balfron Motte and Ballochneck Motte rise from the fields like green thumbs, remnants of medieval fortifications that once commanded these fertile valleys. Further out, the Fairy Knowe Broch hints at much older settlements.

Loch Drunkie provides a lovely spot for walking, though it's hardly a secret anymore. The water's edge can get busy at weekends, but midweek you'll often have the place to yourself. Killearn Kirk and the Old Kirk offer glimpses into the area's religious heritage - both worth a quick look if you're passing.

This isn't somewhere you'd come for nightlife or shopping. The appeal lies in the gentle farming landscape and those intriguing archaeological sites scattered across the hills. Glasgow proper sits about 20 miles south, making this a decent base for exploring both the city and the approaching Highlands.

Staying at one of the holiday parks around Loch Lomond makes perfect sense here. You're close enough to nip into Glasgow for the day, but far enough out to enjoy proper countryside walks and that sense of space that's increasingly hard to find near major cities.