Innes Park Road Circle

The circle of ancient stones on Innes Park Road isn't what you'd call a dramatic monument - it's modest, genuine, the sort of thing you could easily miss if you weren't specifically looking. But that's rather the point. These stones have stood on this Argyll hillside for thousands of years, and there's something genuinely moving about standing among them without the crowds or the gift shop.

It's the kind of place that works brilliantly if you're walking around Dunoon and fancy breaking up a hillside ramble with a bit of archaeological breathing room. Serious history nerds will appreciate the genuine antiquity, but equally, families with kids won't feel shortchanged - the stones themselves are hands-on, the setting's pleasant enough, and there's no entrance fee or tedious queuing.

You'll want to allow maybe twenty minutes to half an hour here, longer if you're the type who sits and contemplates things. There's no visitor centre or interpretation panels, so bringing a guidebook about Argyll's Bronze Age sites would enhance the visit considerably. The surrounding landscape gives good views across the hills, which helps justify the walk if you've got boots on already.

If you're staying at Beach House Pods nearby, this makes a cracking half-hour detour on a decent day - it's close enough not to eat into your plans but far enough off the tourist trail to feel like you've actually found something rather than simply ticked a box. Weather-dependent, obviously, but worth the leg-stretch.