Carn A' Chait, cairn

A pile of stones on a Highland hillside might not sound thrilling, but Carn A' Chait is genuinely worth the detour if you're camping or caravanning near Tain. This Bronze Age cairn sits on open moorland with views across to the Dornoch Firth - the kind of spot where you can actually feel the age of the place rather than just read about it on a plaque.

What you're looking at is a burial cairn, probably built three or four thousand years ago by someone with enough status to warrant this kind of monument. It's not a massive structure - more a substantial heap of stones than anything dramatic - but that's partly what makes it work. There's no visitor centre, no interpretation boards, just you and the Bronze Age.

The walk up is straightforward moorland, taking maybe twenty minutes from the car. Go in clearer weather; the views inland are the real draw here, and in drizzle it's just purple heather and disappointment. History types will find it genuinely moving. Kids will get bored fairly quickly unless they're the sort who enjoy scrambling about on rocks.

It's free, naturally, and you can visit any time. If you're staying at Dornoch Firth Caravan Park or Newmore Highland Pods - both well-regarded spots - this makes a solid half-morning outing before heading into Tain for lunch. Combine it with a coastal walk along the Firth and you've got a proper day sorted.