Pitcairnfield

The Romans left their fingerprints all over Perthshire, and Pitcairnfield is where you can actually see them. This is a proper archaeological site - the remains of a Roman fort that once guarded this corner of Scotland when the legions were trying to make sense of the Highlands. What you're looking at now is mostly earthworks and ditches, the kind of thing that seems unremarkable until you realise you're standing where thousands of soldiers once marched.

It's not a manicured tourist spot with interpretation boards and tea shops. You need to know what you're looking for, which means it rewards anyone with a genuine interest in Roman Britain or Iron Age fortifications. Historians and archaeology enthusiasts will find it genuinely absorbing. Casual visitors might find themselves staring at grass and feeling a bit underwhelmed, if I'm honest.

Perth itself is just down the road, making this an easy add-on if you're staying at one of the caravan parks nearby - Perth Caravan Park is barely a mile away, and Scone is under three miles off. The ground can be boggy, so proper footwear matters. Allow 30-45 minutes to walk the site properly and actually take in what you're seeing.

Best visited in drier months. There's something quite moving about standing on Roman ground in rural Scotland, but you do need the right mindset for it. Not one for the kids unless they're genuinely keen on forts and history.