Milton of Balvarran

You'll need to hunt for Milton of Balvarran, and that's rather the point. This Iron Age hillfort sits on high ground near Blairgowrie, commanding views across Perthshire, though you'd struggle to tell from the road that anything of note is up there at all.

What you get is a proper bit of archaeology - the ramparts and ditches of a settlement that's roughly 2,500 years old are still visible if you know what to look for. The earthworks form concentric rings, and while they're not dramatic in the way of a castle, they tell you something real about how people lived and defended themselves in this part of Scotland. It's less polished than museum exhibits and all the better for it.

This one's for people who actually enjoy a bit of detective work on a walk. Families with young kids might find it underwhelming after ten minutes unless they're already keen on Iron Age history. Serious walkers and archaeology enthusiasts will get far more from it. There's no visitor centre, no admission charge as far as anyone can tell - it's just a field site you access on foot.

The location works well if you're staying at Glenshee Glamping nearby. It's walkable distance and makes for a morning excursion before heading into Blairgowrie proper for lunch. Allow an hour to properly look around and enjoy the views. Best in dry weather - it's muddy otherwise, and the ramparts aren't obvious enough to justify a trudge in drizzle.