Inverkeilor & Lunan Church

The ruins of Inverkeilor Church stand in a quiet corner near Arbroath, weathered stone that's managed to survive centuries of Scottish weather. It's not much - a simple, roofless structure that speaks more through absence than grandeur - but there's something rather moving about a place this old that's kept its dignity despite everything.

Walking round the grounds, you get that particular atmosphere that only abandoned churches have: the wind through empty windows, lichen creeping across carved stone, and the sense of all those centuries of worship suddenly interrupted. The church itself dates back several hundred years, though the exact dates are hazy if you're just turning up without a guidebook. It's the sort of place that rewards a slow wander rather than a quick photograph.

Historically minded visitors will find it worthwhile, though families with small children might run out of steam fairly quickly - there's not much here beyond the walk and the looking. Allow half an hour, longer if you're the type to sit and take in the atmosphere. The nearest proper facilities are in Arbroath itself, a couple of miles off.

If you're staying at The Grange Glamping just down the road, this makes a pleasant leg-stretcher on your holiday without taking up much time. Worth a detour when exploring the area, though it works best paired with other nearby attractions rather than visited in isolation.