Meadowbank

The earthworks at Meadowbank aren't much to look at on first glance - a series of low grassy ridges and ditches that could easily pass for field boundaries if you didn't know better. But this is an Iron Age fort, and standing here on the outskirts of Perth, you're looking at evidence of settlement from around 2,000 years ago.

It's the kind of site that rewards a bit of patience. The defensive ditch system is still visible, and if you walk the perimeter you can trace how the settlement was laid out. There's real archaeology happening here, not a reconstructed theme park version. History types will get genuinely excited; families with young kids might find it a bit underwhelming unless they're already into that period.

The site is free to access and you can wander it in twenty minutes or spend an hour if you're thorough. There's no visitor centre or facilities, so come prepared. It's worth combining with a walk along the Tay if you're staying nearby - Broadslap Farm is just over a mile away if you're based at a caravan park.

Go on a clear day when the light catches the earthworks properly. Winter can make it muddy and hard to read the contours. Perth itself has better restaurants and facilities, so don't expect much on site. If you're into Iron Age settlement patterns and defensive structures, the walk is absolutely worthwhile. If you need something with more immediate visual impact, you might save your time for somewhere else.