Glasshouse

A Victorian glasshouse stands in the Highland landscape near Inverness - one of those curious survivals from an era when wealthy estates built these iron and glass structures to grow exotic fruit and tender plants. You're essentially walking through a piece of horticultural history, seeing how the Victorians managed to coax subtropical specimens to grow in Scotland.

What you actually get here depends entirely on its current state and what's being grown or displayed inside. Sometimes these places are lovingly restored with period planting schemes; sometimes they're rather sad shells. Either way, the architecture itself tells a proper story - the soaring glass panels, the cast iron framework, the whole business of keeping things warm and humid in the Highlands. It's the kind of place that clicks with anyone interested in Victorian engineering or garden history, though casual visitors might find it a bit thin for the journey.

If you're basing yourself at Coulmore Bay Holiday Park or Bunchrew Caravan Park, this makes a reasonable half-hour detour on a rainy afternoon rather than a dedicated outing. Nearby Beauly Holiday Park is marginally closer. Before you make the trip, check what the current access arrangements are - opening hours and admission aren't always straightforward for these smaller historic attractions.

Historically minded families will get something from it. Young children will likely lose interest quickly. It's one for the 'glad we saw it' category rather than the day-highlight sort of place.