UKH

Hello, sorry if this has been asked before. I'm away to introduce my 4 year old to hill walking. We normally do forest walks, trails etc at the moment. I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions into what hills would be best for us to start with? We stay beside Glasgow area. Thank you 

Keep it easy, pick good weather days, have plenty of times to rest/play/picnic. Carry lots of haribo (other sweets are available).

Try to find walks with some variation - scrambley bits or things to stop and play on, not just a long slog up a hill.

At 4 years old, I'd say you need to keep the route to 5km or less. But you know your child's capabilities better than anyone else.

A loch or lochan/tarn can make a more interesting goal than just a summit as there are so many adventures beside the water - dam building, stone skimming or just throwing - being up in the hills rather than on the hills gan be very good with youngsters

And small easy scrambly adventures too

I can thoroughly recommend the Walkhighlands website. Dozens of routes to look through all conveniently arranged in geographical areas. There is now an app which you can use to download walks and their maps to your phone. The maps work even when your phone can't get a signal.

I haven't been there (yet!) but I think that Conic Hill overlooking the southern end of Loch Lomond would have been a fantastic first hill to start off as a kid

https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/lochlomond/conic-hill.shtml

Conic Hill is an excellent suggestion: here are a few more. 

https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/glasgow/windy-hill.shtml

https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/glasgow/the-whangie.shtml

https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/glasgow/meikle-bin.shtml

https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/glasgow/dumgoyne-earls-seat.shtml (Dumgoyne only) 

https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/lochlomond/ben-aan.shtml

https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/fife-stirling/dumyat.shtml

Some good advice already. Here's more how-to stuff:

Tips for Walking with Kids: https://www.ukhillwalking.com/articles/skills/series/children/are_we_nearly...

Top Tips: Camping with Kids: https://www.ukhillwalking.com/articles/skills/series/children/top_tips_camp...

The first article includes a list of suggested hills at various levels of difficulty.

Of these only Ben A'an is close to Glasgow: https://www.ukhillwalking.com/logbook/r/?i=1256

Other mini adventures on your doorstep could include:

Dumgoyne https://www.ukhillwalking.com/logbook/hills/dumgoyne-30540/

Conic Hill https://www.ukhillwalking.com/logbook/hills/conic_hill-12552/

Then a bit further afield you've got things like:

Benarty https://www.ukhillwalking.com/logbook/r/?i=451

West Lomond https://www.ukhillwalking.com/logbook/r/?i=140 (though perhaps via the easier route from the east)

Arthur's Seat - if you're in Edinburgh for a day trip anyway then don't underestimate what a great wee hill it is, plus child-friendly. The summit will be heaving but there are lots of less-busy corners and routes in the park.

Pentlands are good for family walks.

Cruach Tairbeirt starting from the Arrochar & Tarbet train station is brilliant on a nice day. The best views from any 400m summit I’ve ever seen! It looks down both Loch Lomond and Loch along with all of the munros in close-up view. Interesting and varied walk with small waterfalls, some kid-friendly scramble, and not too boggy. Roughly 3 miles circuit, or slightly less if you return the ascent path. It goes through a forested area so trees could be an issue (or more fun!). My 4 (almost 5) year old loved it!

https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/sub2000/cruach-tairbeirt

I remember taking my daughter up some small hill in Northumberland when she was 4 - she was thrilled to bits, despite the bracken being way over her head! I can't offer any hill recommendations for Glasgow, but my advice is to be very careful not to overdo it, don't want to put them off for life.