Roys Folly

Walk far enough into the woodland near Kinross and you'll stumble upon Roy's Folly - a peculiar stone structure that rises unexpectedly from the forest floor. It's essentially a folly in the truest sense: built for no practical purpose whatsoever, just to catch the eye and spark conversation. The thing appears suddenly through the trees, which is half the appeal.

This isn't a destination that demands hours of your time. Twenty minutes to reach it, another ten admiring the stonework, and you're done. But that's precisely why it works as a proper break during a Perthshire ramble. The walk in is gentle enough for families with older kids, though younger ones might find it a bit of a slog through fairly dense woodland without much changing scenery.

Historians and folly enthusiasts will get more from it than casual walkers, if only because they'll actually know what they're looking at and why it matters. Everyone else just gets a nice photo opportunity and a brief sense of discovery. The forest around it is pleasant, not spectacular - this is working woodland rather than manicured parkland.

If you're staying at Gallowhill Caravan & Camping Park nearby, it's worth factoring in as a half-day outing to break up your holiday routine. Free to visit, obviously. Best tackled on a dry day when the woodland floor isn't a muddy nightmare. Go mid-week if possible - weekends can feel busier than they should for something this quiet.