Little Fyrish

The old folly perched on a hilltop north of Dingwall is one of those oddball Scottish landmarks that makes you wonder what on earth the Victorians were thinking. Little Fyrish is basically a gatehouse - a fake, theatrical one - built around 1782 to mark the entrance to an estate. Someone had ambitions, clearly. The structure sits up there catching the Highland wind, visible for miles across the Black Isle, and the walk up takes about twenty minutes from the car park if you're moving at a decent pace.

It's not one for lingering for hours. You climb, you look at the gatehouse, you take the photos with Cromarty Firth in the distance, and you head back down. That said, the views proper justify the leg work - on a clear day you can see all the way across to Ben Wyvis. Walkers and history buffs will find it worthwhile; it's the sort of quirky stop that breaks up a day of serious hiking in the Highlands rather than a destination in itself.

Free to visit, accessible year-round, though winter can get boggy on the track. If you're staying at Blackrock Caravan Park nearby - solid spot with decent facilities - this makes an easy morning outing before heading further into the hills. Dingwall itself has shops and cafes if you need to sort supplies. Worth the detour if you're in the area, but don't rearrange your itinerary specially for it.