Lanrick Castle

You'll spot Lanrick Castle before you realise you're looking at it - just a sturdy ruin wedged into the landscape near Callander, the kind of place that rewards a bit of poking about. It's a 15th-century tower that's seen better days, granted, but that's rather the point. This isn't a polished visitor attraction with a gift shop; it's a genuine bit of Scottish fortification that's been left to weather the centuries.

The castle sits on a bend of the River Teith, which gives the whole spot a proper sense of place. You can walk right up to it - there's no fence, no gatehouse, no entry fee to negotiate. The tower's relatively compact, and most folk will have looked their fill within 20 minutes, maybe half an hour if you're the type who likes to sit on a rock and imagine siege engines. Kids might find it a bit underwhelming unless they're really into castles; it's not the kind of ruin you can climb through or hide in.

The real value here is that it sits handily between Callander and the Trossachs, so if you're staying at either Keltie Bridge or Callander Woods - both solid caravan parks within a few miles - you've got a low-effort outing that fills a morning. Bring proper shoes for the muddy approach. Best in dry weather, frankly, or you'll spend more time cursing the ground than admiring the stonework.