Lochwinnoch

Wild winds whip across the moors here, and that's exactly how locals like it. Lochwinnoch sits in proper hill country, where the Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park stretches for miles in every direction. This isn't your typical Scottish market town - it's got more of a frontier feel, perched between rolling farmland and the dramatic peaks that rise beyond.

The real draw is the landscape itself. Hill of Stake and Windy Hill offer cracking walks for anyone willing to put in the effort, while Craig Minnan provides slightly gentler terrain. Down in the valley, Castle Semple Sailing Club makes the most of the loch that gives the town its name. The water's usually choppy enough to keep things interesting.

History buffs will want to see Semple Collegiate Church, though it's the surrounding countryside that really tells the story here. This is farming country that's stayed largely unchanged for decades. The train station connects directly to Glasgow, making it surprisingly accessible despite feeling properly remote.

Lochwinnoch works well as a base because you're genuinely in the middle of things. Port Glasgow Golf Club is a short drive north if you fancy a round, while the peaks of the regional park spread out in all directions. Day trips to the coast are perfectly doable, but most visitors find themselves drawn back to the moors.

Staying at one of the nearby holiday parks gives you that frontier feeling without sacrificing comfort. You can wake up to proper hill views, spend the day tramping across the moors, then retreat to civilisation when the Scottish weather inevitably turns.