Inverness Botanic Gardens and Café

The gardens sit on the edge of Inverness, a proper green lung that catches you by surprise when you're wandering the Highland capital. Wide lawns slope down toward mature trees, and there's a decent collection of plants from across the globe - nothing fussy or overblown, just well-maintained borders and glasshouses that do what they're meant to do. The café is genuinely good, the sort of place locals actually visit rather than just tourists passing through. You could easily spend two hours here without feeling rushed, though if you're just after a quick walk and a cup of tea, an hour will do.

Families with younger kids will get something out of it - the space is open enough for them to move about - though you won't find dedicated play areas or activities. Gardeners and plant enthusiasts will find it worthwhile. History buffs won't find much to grip them. It's free to wander the grounds, which is exactly what keeps it honest.

The real appeal is that it sits perfectly between Inverness town centre and the string of caravan parks dotting the lochs nearby. If you're based at Go Glamping at Loch Ness or Ardtower, it's an easy afternoon mission rather than a full-day commitment. Visit on a dry day - the Highland weather doesn't always cooperate, and wet grass kills the experience. Spring and summer are obviously better, though autumn can be worth catching too.