Glenbuchat Castle

The ruins of Glenbuchat Castle sit alone on a grassy mound near Strathdon, and there's something properly atmospheric about walking up to them. Built in 1590 by the Laird of Glenbuchat, this Z-plan tower house is one of Scotland's last tower houses constructed before the style fell out of fashion - that alone makes it worth knowing about if you're into Scottish architecture.

What you actually get is a roofless shell, but the stonework is substantial enough that you can read the building's layout: the main rectangular tower with its opposing turrets, the defensive positions, the arrangement of rooms. Bring binoculars if you want to spot carved details high up on the walls. The site's free and there's no fussing about with opening hours - just turn up and have a look. Allow forty minutes, maybe an hour if you're the type who sits and sketches or takes proper photographs.

Historians will get the most from this one. Families with young kids might find it a bit of a trudge for what amounts to an empty shell, though the isolation is genuinely striking. It's close enough to Cairngorms Glamping & Campsite if you're making a proper Aberdeenshire trip - the wider area has proper walking country, so you could easily loop this into a day that takes in more of the Don Valley.

Summer's your best bet weather-wise, but the exposed location means it can be bleak and boggy after rain. Decent shoes essential.