Motte

A grassy mound rising from the Perthshire landscape near Pitlochry, this motte is what remains of a Norman fortification - the sort of thing you walk past without thinking until someone explains what you're actually looking at. The earthwork itself is straightforward: a raised defensive platform topped with what would have once been a wooden palisade and keep. From up there, locals could spot trouble coming across the valley.

It's the kind of site that rewards a bit of effort without demanding much of it. There's no visitor centre, no interpretation board to speak of - just the mound itself and your own imagination. That's either brilliant or disappointing depending on how you feel about archaeology. Historians will find it worthwhile enough; families with young kids might find it a quick ten-minute diversion rather than a destination in itself.

The real appeal is combining it with the broader landscape around Pitlochry. You're already here for the walks, the lochs, the Tay Valley - this sits nicely as a stop-off. Glengoulandie Camping & Caravanning and Pitilie Pods are both within easy reach if you're basing yourself locally, and both have strong reviews worth checking.

Free to visit, obviously. No facilities on-site. Best in dry weather when the ground isn't waterlogged. Spring and early autumn are ideal - decent light, fewer midges than summer, and the place feels less crowded than peak season.