Tarbert Castle

You'll spot the ruins straight away from Tarbert's main street - a chunky medieval fortress plonked on a rocky peninsula that juts into the loch. It's not much to look at from a distance, frankly, but walk down to the water's edge and you get why someone bothered to build here in the first place. The castle dates back to the 14th century, though what remains now is mostly walls and atmosphere rather than anything you can properly explore inside.

The walk down takes about ten minutes from the town centre, and it's worth doing for the views across the loch alone. You can wander around the exterior, peer through the ruined windows, and imagine what life was like for medieval folk stuck on this windswept bit of Scotland. Expect to spend 30 minutes here maximum - it's not a full-day job. The real appeal is the combination: Tarbert itself is a working fishing village with proper character, so you're not just visiting a ruin, you're getting a sense of place.

This works well if you're basing yourself at The Gather (just up the road) or Tarbert Holiday Park - both solid options for a few nights exploring Kintyre and Argyll. History types will appreciate the medieval angle; kids might find it a bit sparse unless they enjoy clambering on rocks. Go when the weather's decent - the exposed location means wind and rain make it less appealing, and the loch views need decent light to show themselves properly.