Hare Stanes

Three standing stones in the middle of nowhere, really - that's Hare Stanes. You'll find them on moorland near Turriff in Aberdeenshire, and they're Bronze Age, which means someone went to considerable effort to haul these things upright thousands of years ago. Worth stopping for if you're already exploring the area, less worth a special journey.

The stones themselves aren't massive - nowhere near the drama of somewhere like Callanish - but there's something quite affecting about stumbling across them on empty moorland. No interpretive boards, no café, no crowds. Just three ancient rocks and quite a lot of wind.

This is one for archaeology enthusiasts and serious walkers rather than families expecting something showy. Allow twenty minutes, maybe half an hour if you're the type to sit quietly and contemplate Bronze Age intentions. The approach involves a decent walk across rough ground, so proper boots are sensible.

If you're basing yourself at Turriff Caravan Park, Hare Stanes makes an easy morning detour - it's only five miles away. Combine it with wandering around Turriff itself or pushing on to other Aberdeenshire sites if you've got the time. The landscape up here is genuinely rather bleak and beautiful, the kind of place that gets under your skin rather than immediately impressing you.

Free to visit, accessible year-round, though winter weather can make the moorland approach a bit of a slog. Go if you're into this sort of thing; skip it if you're not.