St Maelrubha's Church, Poolewe

The small church sits quietly at Poolewe, just a short drive from Gairloch, and there's something rather moving about stumbling across it. St Maelrubha's is one of Scotland's oldest places of worship - the saint himself arrived here in the 7th century, which means this spot has been sacred ground for well over a thousand years. The building itself is modest, whitewashed and unassuming, but that's rather the point. This isn't a cathedral designed to impress; it's a working parish church that happens to occupy genuinely ancient ground.

What you're really coming for is the sense of time. The churchyard is scattered with weathered gravestones, some illegible, others telling stories of fishing families and Highland life stretching back centuries. On a grey day - and there will be grey days - the atmosphere is properly contemplative. You can pop inside if it's open, though there's no visitor centre or interpretive panels. This is Christianity in its plainest, most honest form.

Historians and anyone interested in early Scottish Christianity will find it worthwhile. Families with young children might manage fifteen minutes before boredom sets in unless they're genuinely interested in graveyards. It's free to visit and takes barely half an hour, including a walk around the grounds.

If you're based at Sands Caravan & Camping near Gairloch, it's a straightforward run over - well worth combining with a coastal walk or a visit to Inverewe Garden down the road. The Highlands are full of ancient sites; this one actually rewards the detour.