Balure, dun site

A crumbling stone fort perched on a hillside above Lochgilphead, Balure is one of those archaeological finds that rewards curious explorers willing to leave the main roads. The dun - an Iron Age circular fortification - sits with commanding views across the landscape, though what you're looking at today is mostly rough stonework and overgrown ramparts rather than reconstructed walls.

The site itself demands a bit of effort to reach and won't keep you longer than twenty minutes once you're there. The real appeal is for people who enjoy piecing together how ancient people lived rather than those expecting dramatic reconstructions. Walkers will find it a decent justification for a countryside ramble, and history types will appreciate being able to stand where people lived two thousand years ago without crowds or barriers.

It's free to visit, though you'll need proper directions from Lochgilphead - it's not signposted in any obvious way. Go when the weather's decent because the exposed hillside gets windy and muddy in rain. If you're staying at Lochgilphead Caravan Park just down the way, it's easily combined with a morning's exploration of the surrounding Argyll hills. Don't expect much in the way of facilities or interpretation boards. This is archaeology in its rawest form - just you, some old stones, and space to think.