Bruntshields Hill

The walk up Bruntshields Hill rewards you with proper views across Dumfries and Galloway's rolling moorland - the kind of landscape that makes you understand why people settle in the Scottish Lowlands and then never leave. It's not a dramatic peak, nothing like the Cairngorms, but that's rather the point. The ascent from Dumfries is steady rather than punishing, taking around an hour to reach the summit where the wind tends to pick up and clear your head entirely.

You'll want stout boots and waterproof trousers - the ground gets boggy and the weather changes faster than you'd expect. The views are best on a clear day, naturally, when you can trace the River Nith snaking through the valley below. This isn't a destination for young children who tire easily, but older kids and keen walkers will find it genuinely worthwhile.

Base yourself at one of the nearby caravan parks - Hemplands Farm sits just two miles away, making it convenient for an afternoon sortie. Newbridge Country Park and Halleaths Caravan Park are both within five miles and give you flexibility if you're planning several days of Lowland exploration. The walk itself is free, though allowing three hours total (up, about and down) makes sense if you want to linger at the top without rushing back to the campsite for dinner.