11.2km / 7 miles / 7 hours Ascent 1177m/3863ft

No need for blood, sweat or tears here, as the smiles break out on the easier edge of the Southern Uplands ’ Galloway Hills.

NEWCASTLE AND MARDU CIRCULAR Level Easy Elevation gain 217m Length 6.1km (1hr 49min) Description This round-the-hill loop trail from Newcastle leads through peaceful rural landscapes and small village

Tackle this meaty hike summiting three Munros in The Trossachs , including the mighty Ben Lui – arguably the region’s finest.

Moments enjoyed, lessons learned, handy advice, weird stuff that happened: welcome to the little bits and pieces that don’t make big stories, but do make all the difference.

■ Distance: 9½ miles/15.1km ■ Time: 6-7hours ■ ...