Millbank

Standing on the banks near Blairgowrie, Millbank is one of those archaeological sites that rewards a bit of detective work to find. It's a Roman settlement - proper proper, the sort of place where you can actually feel the weight of nearly two thousand years of human movement underfoot.

What you're looking at are the earthworks and foundations of a Roman fort. The site itself is modest by excavation standards - there's no reconstructed walls or visitor centre here - but that's rather the point. You get the raw landscape, undressed and honest. The Tay valley spreads out around you, and you start to understand why the Romans picked this spot. Good views. Good water. Good defensive position.

Historians and archaeology enthusiasts will find this genuinely interesting. Families with older kids who've got past the "but there's nothing to see" stage will get something from it too. You're talking a quiet walk in open countryside rather than an afternoon's entertainment, though.

It's free to visit and open to the landscape year-round - no gates, no admission fees, just access as you find it. Give yourself an hour if you're taking time to walk the perimeter and think about what stood here. Spring and early autumn are best; winter gets boggy and miserable.

If you're staying at Beech Hedge or Blairgowrie Holiday Park - both within easy driving distance - this works as a morning detour while you're exploring the area. It's the sort of stop that breaks up a longer Perthshire itinerary without dominating your day.