Knockbain Parish Church

The small whitewashed kirk sits on the northern shore of the Black Isle, just across the Moray Firth from Inverness. Knockbain Parish Church is the sort of place you'd stumble upon while driving the backroads rather than deliberately seek out - though you'd be glad you did. The building itself dates to the 19th century, all clean lines and Highland practicality, surrounded by an old burial ground where you can spend a quiet half-hour reading headstones and getting a real sense of local history. Inside, it's modest but genuinely peaceful - the kind of church that feels lived-in rather than museum-like.

What makes it worthwhile isn't the architecture or any particular relic, but the location and the absolute tranquillity. If you're based at Fortrose Bay Campsite just down the road, it's a proper bracing walk along quiet lanes with views across to Inverness. Historians will find the churchyard interesting, but this isn't a destination in itself - it's the punctuation mark on a morning exploring the Black Isle's quieter corners. The setting works brilliantly for photographs if light is decent, and locals tend to maintain the grounds with genuine care. Allow twenty minutes if you're just popping in, longer if you're the sort who lingers in graveyards. No facilities on site, so plan accordingly. Free, obviously.