Glasgow

Two reservoirs glint like scattered pennies across moorland that rolls between Glasgow and the Campsie Fells. This isn't the Glasgow most folk know - it's the wild fringes where the city peters out into proper countryside, and postcode G63 feels a world away from Buchanan Street.

The Whangie cuts through the landscape like an ancient scar. This dramatic rock formation on the Campsie Fells offers cracking views across the central belt, though it's a fair trek up from the village. More adventurous types tackle Auchineden Peak or explore the atmospheric ruins at Burncrooks, where history seeps from every stone.

Finnich Glen steals the show though. The Devil's Pulpit, as locals call it, is where red sandstone gorge meets tumbling water in spectacular fashion. It's become something of an Instagram darling, but arrive early and you'll have the place to yourself. The water really does run red - iron deposits, not supernatural intervention.

Kilmannan and Burncrooks reservoirs provide gentler pleasures. Proper walking country this, with paths that meander through heather and bracken. Cochno Hill rewards the effort with panoramic views that stretch from Ben Lomond to the Forth bridges on clear days.

Getting here means navigating country lanes from either Glasgow or Stirling. The nearest proper town is Kirkintilloch, about twenty minutes south. Most visitors come for day trips, but staying at one of the nearby holiday parks makes perfect sense. Loch Lomond Retreat has excellent reviews, and several glamping options dot the area - though many are still finding their feet.

This corner of Scotland rewards those who venture beyond the obvious. Wild enough to feel remote, civilised enough to reach easily.