Ardoch Roman Fort

The ramparts are still there if you know where to look. Ardoch Roman Fort sits just outside Dunblane, a sprawl of earthworks that once anchored Rome's northern frontier around 140 AD. Walk the perimeter and you'll spot the distinctive parallel ditches - some stretching 40 metres across - that guarded this strategically crucial supply station. It's not Hadrian's Wall, mind you. There are no standing stones, no dramatic ruins. What you get instead is archaeology in the raw: lumpy ground that tells a story if you're prepared to read it.

The site works best for walkers with genuine interest in Roman Britain, or anyone keen on interpreting landscape rather than looking at exhibits. Families might find it underwhelming unless the kids are already into that period - there's nothing interactive, no visitor centre, just open countryside. Bring an ordnance survey map or download one beforehand; the fort's not signposted brilliantly. Allow 45 minutes to an hour to walk the perimeter properly and take a few photographs.

Free to visit, naturally, since there's nothing to contain or charge for. Spring or early autumn are ideal - the ground's dry, the light's good, and you won't be trudging through mud. It sits well within reach of Craighead Howf if you're holidaying in the area; you could knock it out in a morning between other Perthshire attractions. Not essential viewing, but if you're already in Dunblane and have time, it's genuinely worth the detour.