Gills, Broch

The remains of Gills Broch sit on the far north coast near Thurso, a sturdy Iron Age fortress that's essentially a tall stone ring now reduced to its foundations and lower walls. You're looking at what was once a double-walled roundhouse, maybe 50 feet across, built somewhere between 100 BC and AD 100 - the sort of defensive structure that Nordic raiders would've thought twice about attacking.

It's not dramatic. There's no visitor centre, no reconstructions, just crumbling sandstone walls rising a few feet out of rough moorland. But if you're into archaeology or Iron Age Scotland, you'll find it genuinely interesting to walk around and work out how people lived here two thousand years ago. The double walls are still visible in places, which is rare. Most brochs you see are either better preserved or completely flattened.

The walk out isn't strenuous - maybe ten minutes across open ground - but the weather up here can turn fast, so check conditions before heading over. Allow an hour to properly explore and take photographs. It's free, obviously, because there's nothing to stop you wandering onto the site.

Little Croft Highlands, just under four miles away near Thurso, makes a sensible base if you're combining this with other north coast attractions. Gills Broch works best for history buffs rather than families looking for entertainment - kids might find it a bit of a damp squib unless they're genuinely keen on ancient ruins. Worth the drive if you're in the area, but don't plan your whole trip around it.