Balunton Hill

The walk up Balunton Hill isn't long, but it's steep enough to make you work for the views. From Newton Stewart, you're looking at a proper climb through moorland that opens out onto something genuinely worthwhile once you reach the top. The summit gives you sweeping vistas across Dumfries and Galloway - on a clear day you can pick out the forestry plantations that roll across the lowlands, and the whole landscape spreads out in shades of brown and green.

It's the sort of hill that rewards walkers more than casual strollers. Families with older kids who don't mind a bit of huffing will get on with it fine. Younger children might find the steep sections tedious. The route itself is straightforward enough - no technical scrambling, just determination and decent boots.

Allow yourself a solid hour and a half if you're going at a moderate pace and want time to stand about taking it all in. The moorland can be exposed, so pick a day when the weather's cooperating. It's the kind of spot where you'll see maybe a handful of other people, which is rather lovely.

If you're staying at Galloway Forest Holiday Park just down the road, this makes an excellent morning outing before heading off to explore the wider area. The forest itself offers plenty of easier walks if Balunton feels too demanding, but honestly, the extra effort to get up here pays dividends.