Knock Castle

Knock Castle sits on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Firth of Clyde, and it's the kind of place that makes you understand why someone bothered building a fortress here centuries ago. The views alone justify the walk - proper sweeping panorama across the water towards the Cowal Peninsula. What remains is mainly the shell of a 13th-century stronghold, which means you're not wandering through furnished rooms or climbing staircases, but the bones of the structure tell their own story.

It's about a twenty-minute walk from Dunoon, and the path gets you thinking about medieval strategic positioning rather quickly. History types will appreciate the location and the chance to piece together what life looked like for the people who held this place. Families with older kids can manage it, though there's not much to occupy younger ones once they've reached the top and had a look around - forty minutes covers it.

The appeal here is really the setting and the walk rather than the ruins themselves. If you're staying at nearby Beach House Pods and fancy a morning out, it's worth the trek. Bring decent shoes because the ground's uneven, and weather can turn quickly on the Clyde. There's no visitor centre or facilities, so come prepared. Free to access, as far as anyone can tell - just turn up and have a wander. Best visited on a clear day when you can actually see something other than mist.