Loch Ness Gun Club

Clay pigeon shooting in the Highlands sounds like the sort of thing you'd expect to be stuffy, but Loch Ness Gun Club is genuinely good fun. You're basically blasting clay targets out of a woodland setting with proper instructors on hand, and the backdrop of Loch Ness itself doesn't hurt. It's the kind of activity that appeals to people who fancy doing something a bit different from the usual holiday routine - families with teenagers work well here, as do groups after a bit of friendly competition.

The club sits close enough to Fort Augustus that you won't spend half the morning driving there. Costs and exact opening hours aren't straightforward to pin down without ringing ahead, so do check before you go - it's not the sort of place that operates like a theme park with fixed opening times. Allow a couple of hours if you're a complete beginner; you'll need instruction first.

If you're staying at one of the nearby parks - Loch Ness Holiday Park or Inver Coille are both within easy reach - this slots in nicely as a half-day activity. It breaks up the holiday rhythm without consuming the whole day. Not ideal for very young children, but if you've got kids aged twelve and up who aren't completely opposed to a bit of outdoor sport, they'll likely remember it. The actual shooting is thrilling enough, and even watching someone else do it has a certain appeal.