Sean Dun, dun site

The walk out to Sean Dun rewards you with something genuinely unusual - a fortified dun perched on the Isle of Mull that's been standing since Iron Age times. It's not a grand ruin covered in interpretation boards. Instead, you get raw, weathered stonework that speaks for itself, with views that sprawl across to Loch Tuath and beyond.

You're looking at what amounts to a prehistoric stronghold, the kind of defensive settlement that would have housed a community of maybe thirty people. The dry-stone walls still grip the rocky outcrop where they were built two thousand years ago. There's something properly moving about standing in a structure that's survived this long without fanfare or restoration.

This is one for walkers and history types who don't mind earning their views. The approach isn't trivial - you're on foot across moorland, and the final push involves scrambling a bit. Allow a good hour each way from Craignure or wherever you're based. The nearest decent base is Port nan Gael Campsite, which sits just 1.2 miles away and gives you easy access without the drive.

Winter's brutal here - wind tears across the exposed terrain, and visibility can be shocking. Spring through early autumn is your window. There's no café, no facilities, no admission charge that we can find. Bring water, a decent map, and go when the weather's settled. It's not a quick tick-off; it's a proper bit of archaeology you have to commit to.