Castle Law

The walk up Castle Law rewards you with views across Stirling that explain why someone bothered building a fort here in the first place. It's a proper hill-fort, not a castle in the traditional sense - the clue's in the Iron Age ramparts you can still make out as you climb. The summit itself is only about 300 metres, so it's doable in under an hour even with kids in tow, though the path gets steep towards the top and muddy if it's been raining.

What you get is a 360-degree panorama: the Forth valley spreads out below, Stirling Castle sits obvious on its own crag to the south, and on clear days the Trossachs hills appear properly dramatic to the north. History enthusiasts will appreciate standing where Iron Age tribes once stood; walkers just want the views and the relative ease of the ascent. It's free, naturally, and there's no visitor centre or facilities at the summit - bring water.

If you're based at Witches Craig Caravan and Camping Park less than a mile away, this makes an excellent morning walk before heading into Stirling town itself. The location works as a gentle warm-up if you're planning longer hikes in the region, or as the main event if you're not up for anything more ambitious. Don't expect crowds or commercialisation. You'll find locals out here most weekends, which tells you it's solid ground.