Horse Hill

The walk up Horse Hill rewards you with proper 360-degree views across Dumfries and Galloway - on a clear day you can see right out to the Solway Firth. It's not a dramatic peak by Scottish standards, more a determined climb through moorland and forest that takes the better part of an hour if you're not rushing. The summit itself is straightforward enough: a modest high point with a trig marker and the sort of wind that makes you grateful for a decent jacket.

This is genuinely good for families with older kids and anyone after a proper walk without needing mountaineering skills. Younger children might struggle with the steeper sections, and it's the kind of place where you'll want decent boots - boggy underfoot in patches. Allow a solid two hours for the round trip if you're not moving fast.

Castle Douglas sits just a few miles away and makes a sensible base. If you're staying at one of the nearby caravan parks - Mollance Farm or Kippford View are closest - this becomes an easy morning or afternoon outing. There's no visitor infrastructure at the top, so bring water and something to eat if you're lingering. Go in decent weather; in the mist it loses its appeal entirely and navigation becomes less straightforward. Free to access, naturally, since it's just moorland.