Peel Ring of Lumphanan

Two concentric earth ramparts rising from farmland near Tullochvenus - that's what you're looking at when you drive up to Peel Ring of Lumphanan. It's a motte-and-bailey castle, the kind the Normans built to stamp authority across newly conquered territory, and this one dates back to around 1150. The earthworks are remarkably well preserved, all grass-covered now, but you can still read the defensive logic in how they're arranged.

What you actually do here is walk around the perimeter, climb to the top of the inner mound if your knees are willing, and take in views across the Dee Valley. There's not much else - no visitor centre, no gift shop, no interpretation panels worth mentioning. This is archaeology as it should be sometimes: stripped back, slightly wild, asking you to do a bit of the imaginative work yourself. History buffs will get more out of it than casual passers-by, and walkers en route between Aboyne Loch Caravan Park and Tarland Camping & Caravanning Club Site might find it worth a 20-minute detour.

Access appears to be free and unrestricted, though there's nowhere official to park. Allow 30 minutes to an hour, depending on how long you want to linger. Spring and autumn are probably best - too muddy after heavy rain, too exposed in proper winter wind. It's a proper Aberdeenshire experience rather than a showpiece attraction, but that's rather the point.