Big Craig

Big Craig isn't especially high or famous, which is precisely why it works so well as a walk. You get proper views across Dumfries and Galloway without the crowds that plague the bigger peaks further north. The climb from nearby Dumfries takes roughly an hour if you're reasonably fit, and the path winds through woodland before opening onto moorland where the landscape falls away in all directions.

On a clear day you can see why people settled this part of Scotland - rolling hills, hedgerows, the Nith Valley spreading out below. On a grey one, it's honestly a bit forgettable, so timing matters. It's free, takes a morning or early afternoon, and works brilliantly if you're based at one of the nearby glamping spots like Burnside of Ae or The Outdoor Hotel. Both are within spitting distance, which means you can do this walk and still have energy for something else.

It suits walkers more than families with very small children - the terrain's fine but there's nothing to do once you're up there except enjoy the view and turn round. Older kids who like being outdoors will get more from it. The area around Red Squirrel Campsite offers other walks if you want to string a few days together, and Dumfries itself has enough cafés and pubs to make a base of it. Worth the detour if you're in the region, but don't rearrange your holiday around it.