Old railway walk

The old railway walk near Fortrose is a proper gem if you like your walks with a bit of history attached. This isn't some manicured nature trail - it follows the route of the defunct railway line that once connected the Black Isle to the wider Highlands, and you can still spot the bones of the Victorian engineering as you go. Crumbling stone viaducts, grassy embankments where the tracks used to run, and the occasional moss-covered cutting remind you that this line was dead and buried decades ago.

It's ideal for anyone who gets a kick out of industrial archaeology without needing visitor facilities or admission fees. Walkers will appreciate the gentle gradient and the sense of going somewhere purposeful rather than just tramping round a loop. Kids might lose interest after 45 minutes unless they're already into trains and Victorian engineering, but it's long enough that you won't feel short-changed.

Allow an hour to an hour and a half depending on how far you fancy going - the walk is forgiving about where you turn back. The best time is late spring through early autumn when the path isn't waterlogged and you can actually see the historical features without battling bracken.

If you're staying at Fortrose Bay Campsite, this is an easy stroll from your pitch and adds substance to an afternoon without demanding serious effort. Combine it with a walk around Fortrose itself and you've got a decent half-day sorted.