Barnluasgan, dun site

Getting to Barnluasgan means a proper walk through Argyll woodland, and frankly that's half the appeal. This Iron Age dun - essentially a fortified settlement - sits on a hilltop with views that make the scramble worthwhile. What you're looking at is around 2,000 years of history compressed into earthwork ramparts and the faint traces of where people actually lived, farmed, and defended themselves.

It's not Instagram-ready ruins. There are no reconstructed walls or interpretation boards telling you what to think. Instead you get the skeleton of the thing - concentric defensive banks that still make sense when you stand there. The site demands a bit of imagination, which older kids and history buffs will relish. Younger children might find it a bit abstract unless they're already keen on archaeology.

The nearest proper base is Lochgilphead, about four miles away, where both The Pod Over By and Lochgilphead Caravan Park offer decent stops. The Pod has excellent reviews and feels more contemporary if you want that. From either park, Barnluasgan works as a half-day excursion - allow two hours including the walk and time to properly explore the earthworks.

Best visited in spring or autumn when the midges aren't out in force. There's no visitor infrastructure, so bring water and decent boots. It's the sort of place that rewards patience and actually looking - not somewhere to tick off quickly. If you're combining a caravan holiday with wanting proper Argyll history beyond the obvious routes, this delivers.