Doon Hill

The walk up Doon Hill from Dalbeattie is proper Scottish Lowlands walking - nothing fancy, just good honest terrain that rewards you with genuine views across Dumfries and Galloway. The hill itself sits at 433 metres, which makes it accessible for most fitness levels without being a doddle.

You're looking at roughly an hour up and the same back down, depending on your pace and how often you stop to catch your breath. The path is well-trodden and straightforward enough, though it can get boggy in wet weather so proper boots aren't optional here. On a clear day - and you'll want clear - you get sight lines across to the Solway Firth and into the Lake District beyond. When the cloud sits low, which it often does in this part of Scotland, you're just walking through murk.

This works brilliantly if you're based at Sandyhills Bay or Parkdean Resorts' Southerness site - both within striking distance - as a half-day excursion that gets the legs moving without eating up your entire afternoon. Families with teenagers who can manage a steady incline will find it worth doing. Younger kids might grumble at the last stretch. Walkers after proper peaks should push on to Criffel instead, which is steeper and more dramatic.

Free to access, as these Scottish hills tend to be. Just park sensibly near Dalbeattie and follow the established route. Autumn's probably the best time - summer crowds thin out and the light's lovely on the moorland.