Dinosaur kingdom

Life-sized dinosaur sculptures lurking in the Scottish Highlands - it's exactly as odd as it sounds, and absolutely worth a detour if you're anywhere near Aviemore. The kingdom spreads across a woodland setting with a collection of fibreglass beasts that range from impressively detailed to charmingly wonky. Kids will either be terrified or absolutely thrilled; there's no middle ground.

You get proper-sized Tyrannosaurs, long-necked sauropods, and those spiky things whose names nobody can remember. Walking through feels a bit like stumbling into a 1990s theme park that time forgot, which is partly why it works. The woodland walk takes about 45 minutes at a leisurely pace, longer if you're stopping for photos at every dinosaur.

Best suited to families with children under ten who still find dinosaurs genuinely exciting rather than cringe. Adults might find it charming in an ironic way; teenagers will definitely roll their eyes. There's something refreshingly low-tech about it all - no interactive screens or QR codes, just painted fiberglass against the Highland landscape.

Basically free to wander (though opening hours and admission costs aren't clear from the usual channels - worth ringing ahead), so it won't break the bank. Pair it with a stay at Highland Glen Holiday Park down the road, then combine with actual outdoor walks in the Cairngorms or along the Spey Valley. The dinosaurs are brief entertainment; the scenery is what you're really here for.