Carsie Mill

The ruins of Carsie Mill sit quietly beside the River Tay, a few miles south of Perth - the sort of spot you'd walk past without thinking twice if someone hadn't told you what you were looking at. What remains are the stone foundations of a medieval mill, substantial enough to make out the layout but crumbled enough that you need a bit of imagination to picture it working. The river still runs past, which is the whole point - water power drove these mills for centuries, grinding grain and processing cloth.

It's genuinely interesting if you're into how people actually lived and worked in medieval Scotland, less so if you're after Instagram moments. Allow twenty minutes tops, maybe thirty if you're the type to sit and sketch. There's nothing fancy here - no visitor centre, no interpretive boards, just the bones of the thing. That's rather refreshing, frankly. Kids might find it dull unless they're already keen on history, but walkers along the Tay will appreciate the detour.

The nearest towns are Perth to the north, with Blairgowrie and Beech Hedge Holiday Park both within a couple of miles if you're staying in caravans. It pairs well with a broader walk along the river rather than as a destination in itself. Free to visit, obviously - there's nothing to charge admission for. Go when it's not pouring rain and the riverbanks aren't sodden, as the approach can be boggy.