Abernethy Old Kirk

A proper old kirk sits on the edge of Grantown-on-Spey, and it's the kind of place that stops you mid-walk to actually look around. Abernethy Old Kirk dates back centuries, its stone walls weathered by Highland winters and the sort of history that makes you want to sit on the grass for twenty minutes doing nothing much.

You'll find a quiet graveyard wrapped around it, which sounds maudlin but isn't - there's something genuinely peaceful about wandering between the headstones and reading the names of folk who've been buried here for generations. The kirk itself is small and unassuming, the sort of building that doesn't shout about itself. If it's open, you can step inside to see the interior, though don't expect elaborate decoration. It's austere and real.

History enthusiasts will get proper value from this. It's not a tourist circus. Families with young kids might find ten minutes enough unless the graveyard happens to capture their imagination. Walkers exploring around Grantown will find it an easy detour from the town centre - nowhere near as taxing as dragging everyone round a stately home.

It's free to visit, and there's no set opening hours that I could pin down, so check locally before heading out. If you're staying at Grantown on Spey Caravan Park, you're barely four miles away. It pairs well with a wider walk round the Spey Valley rather than being a destination in itself. Go for the stillness, not the spectacle.