Newton Stewart

Half the fun of this market town lies in watching the River Cree snake past the old granite buildings. Newton Stewart sits right on the doorstep of the Galloway Hills, making it a proper launching pad for serious hill walking. The town itself won't win any beauty contests - it's got that functional Scottish border feel - but there's something reassuring about its no-nonsense high street and the way locals still stop for a chat.

The surrounding landscape is where things get interesting. Kilsture Hill and Corwar Hill offer cracking views across Galloway Forest Park, while the gentler Orchardton Hill makes for an easier afternoon ramble. History buffs will find plenty to poke around - Cruggleton Castle's atmospheric ruins sit dramatically on coastal cliffs, and the Mulberry Harbour War Memorial tells a fascinating wartime story that's often overlooked.

Woodland walks through Eggerness Wood and Barholm Wood provide sheltered alternatives when the weather turns, which it does regularly up here. Galloway House's gardens are worth the detour if you're after something more cultivated.

Getting here is straightforward enough - the A75 runs right past, connecting you to Dumfries in the east and Stranraer to the west. It's about 40 minutes to the ferry ports if you're heading to Northern Ireland, or an hour to the regional capital.

Basing yourself at one of the nearby holiday parks makes perfect sense. You're close enough to nip into town for supplies, but far enough out to appreciate the rolling Galloway countryside. The coast is barely 20 minutes away too, so you can swap hills for shoreline whenever the mood takes you.