Oatbank Crannog

Standing on the shore at Oatbank, you're looking at the remains of an Iron Age dwelling that sank into the loch thousands of years ago. A crannog - that's a fortified island settlement built on timber posts - sounds grand until you realise what you're actually seeing: a dark patch in the water, some submerged timbers if you're lucky with the light, and mostly your own imagination filling in the gaps.

It's the kind of place that fascinates archaeologists and history students far more than casual visitors. The site sits near Pitlochry, Perthshire, in water shallow enough that you can sometimes spot the wooden remains during low water levels. There's no visitor centre, no interpretation boards, no car park with a café - you're essentially turning up to look at what amounts to an underwater pile of sticks from 2,000 years back.

That said, if you're the sort who gets a proper thrill from standing where ancient Picts actually lived and worked, it's worth the detour from nearby attractions. Combine it with a walk around Pitlochry itself or base yourself at Glengoulandie Camping & Caravanning just down the road and treat it as a quirky morning stop rather than a destination in its own right. Bring binoculars. Wear waterproof boots. Don't expect much, and you won't be disappointed.