Maxwell's Temple

You'll find this curious 18th-century folly perched on a hillside near Pitlochry, a proper oddball among Perthshire's attractions. Maxwell's Temple is exactly what the name suggests - a small stone structure built by a local landowner with more money than sense, designed to look like a classical ruin. It's not much to look at from a distance, but once you've made the walk up to it, you get proper views across the surrounding hills that justify the effort.

The temple itself won't keep you long. Ten minutes to have a poke around, take a photo, maybe sit on the stone steps if the weather's kind. But the appeal here is the walk rather than the destination. It's gentle enough for families with older kids, though anyone under eight will likely complain about the climb. Local historians and architecture enthusiasts get more out of it - understanding why some Victorian landowner thought this was a good use of his estate adds a layer of interest that casual visitors might miss.

If you're based at Glengoulandie Camping & Caravanning, just four miles away, this makes an easy afternoon outing. The nearby town of Pitlochry offers decent cafes and shops to visit before or after. Go in autumn when the bracken turns golden and you'll have fewer tourists clogging up the paths. Spring's pretty too, if you don't mind the midges in long grass.

The real win here is combining it with walks through the surrounding woodland - it's part of a broader network rather than a standalone stop. Worth the detour if you're in the area, but don't shuffle other plans around to see it.