Ardclach Church

A modest kirk standing alone on moorland just south of Forres, Ardclach Church is one of those places that rewards the detour if you're already in the area. Built in 1667, it's a straightforward rectangular stone structure - nothing elaborate, but that's rather the point. You can peek through the windows year-round since it's unfenced, though the interior is sparse. What matters is the setting: open Highland landscape rolling away in all directions, and a genuine sense of stepping back centuries.

History enthusiasts will appreciate its age and the weathered gravestones dotted about. Walkers passing through Aberdeenshire will find it a useful waymarking spot. Kids under ten will probably find it dull after five minutes - there's no interior access and nothing interactive - but it works well as a photo stop if you're doing a circuit of the area.

The real appeal is in combining this with a stay at ACE Adventures & Hideaways, just 2.7 miles away. That's a proper activity centre with camping and glamping options, so you could spend a couple of days exploring the quieter corners of Moray. Forres itself is the nearest town with proper facilities, about ten minutes' drive north.

Go at late afternoon light if you can - the church photographs better then, and the moorland takes on a lovely amber tone. It costs nothing, obviously. Allow twenty minutes if you're stopping properly, ten if you're just passing through.